Family, friends honor police lieutenant a year after COVID death

Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Erik Lloyd died conscionable implicit a twelvemonth ago, but his friends, household members and chap constabulary officers packed into a religion connected Saturday day to grant his life.

“I person listened to the words of nationalist officials, household and friends, connected however they felt astir Erik and his beingness — determination is 1 communal taxable that comes out,” Lloyd’s stepfather, Chris Luther, told the crowd. “Erick Lloyd had developed, arsenic each of america should, the quality to gain the spot of those astir him.”

Lloyd, 53, died July 29, 2020 from complications of COVID-19. While a tiny memorial work was livestreamed soon aft his death, Lloyd’s extended friends and household could not stitchery successful idiosyncratic until Saturday day astatine the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6601 W. Twain Ave.

Lloyd had worked for Metro for astir 3 decades and served arsenic the president of the Injured Police Officers Fund. Those who spoke during the memorial work connected Saturday described a antheral who was dedicated to his job, his religion and his family, including his woman of 22 years, Minddie.

Pictures displayed connected monitors wrong the religion gym showed Lloyd smiling, often limb successful limb with Minddie oregon playing with their young children. The work was afloat of music, including hymns and 1 of Lloyd’s favourite songs, “Candle successful the Wind” by Elton John.

Undersheriff Christopher Darcy recounted memories of joking with his friend, and however Lloyd was ever anxious to determination connected to his adjacent “dream job” wrong Metro.

“Erik truly stood for what Metro is,” Darcy said. “He’s the embodiment of our values.”

Former Henderson Councilwoman Gerri Schroder told the assemblage that successful the 2o years she knew Lloyd and his wife, helium was ever progressive with Minddie’s enactment successful Las Vegas and with the valley’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community. He ever wanted to cognize what helium could bash to assistance idiosyncratic successful need, Schroder said.

“Erik isn’t gone; his bequest volition unrecorded on,” she said.

Lloyd was the archetypal known Metro worker to dice of COVID-19, followed by the deaths of 70-year-old retired Detective Michael Karstedt, connected Jan. 3, 70-year-old civilian worker John Melwak, connected Oct. 23, and officer Jason Swanger, 41, connected June 24.

When Minddie Lloyd addressed the crowd, she spoke of her husband’s dedication to the Injured Police Officers Fund. She asked those gathered to deliberation astir the families of officers who had precocious died, including Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Micah May. She besides thanked Swanger’s household for attending the memorial.

“This is for you too,” she told Swanger’s family.

Lloyd is survived by his wife, 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren.

Contact Katelyn Newberg astatine knewberg@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0240. Follow @k_newberg connected Twitter.