A Florida Highway Patrol trooper has died from COVID-19

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper has died from COVID-19.

Brian Pingry served the residents of Southwest Florida for seven years, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

FHP Lt. Greg Bueno said Pingry lived and worked in Lee County.

“We are heartbroken,” Bueno said.

Bueno also spoke highly of Pingry as a colleague. “He came to work every day, quietly did his job, did his job professionally, and did the job the best of his abilities and that’s serving the citizens of the state of Florida. And every chance he got in his free time he spent with the people that meant to most to him and that was his family,” said Bueno.

Pingry is the most recent law enforcement official to die of COVID-19 in Southwest Florida.

Three employees, two of them corrections deputies, of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, have died in a span of almost two months due to complications from COVID-19.

The Fort Myers Police Department lost Police Dispatcher Shawn Boone to COVID-19 on Aug. 9.

Trooper Pingry served the citizens of SW Florida for 7 dedicated years. Thank you for your service, friendship and for being such a great person. Thinking of you and your family…heartbroken 💔
Rest in peace brother. https://t.co/bLBZYpe8f0

— FHP Southwest Florida (@FHPSWFL) September 19, 2021