Florida Police Dispatcher First In State To Die From Coronavirus

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A 41-year-old woman from South Florida has become the first police dispatcher in Florida to die from the new coronavirus.

"Unfortunately, she had to go on a ventilator and fight this battle for quite some time," Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said Tuesday in announcing the death of Nikima Thompson.

The 16-year veteran communications operator died Monday night. The agency's Deputy Shannon Bennett became the first law enforcement officer in the state to die from the illness on April 3. Don't miss updates about precautions in Florida as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

"Her family had to make a very difficult decision," Tony said of Thompson. "They had to remove her from the ventilator. They made that decision last night roughly 7 p.m. and of course Nikima lost her life to this virus."

Two unions representing Broward sheriff's deputies and officers overwhelmingly slapped Tony with separate no-confidence votes in April over his handling of the new coronavirus and the suspension of a union president days after that official publicly criticized the sheriff. Tony told deputies their concerns had been heard and he called on his agency to come together.

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Tony said Thompson's mother is also battling the virus.

"I want to reach out and say keep your prayers at heart for not only this agency, but for her family," Tony said. "She leaves behind four kids, siblings and many other loved ones who are suffering from this. Her mother herself is currently fighting this COVID-19 and dealing with a very similar battle as she is navigating her own health issues."

Tony said the agency planned to honor Thompson in the same manner as it would honor any fallen public safety professional.

"From leaving this podium, we will go straight to preparing to do an honor transport of her body to final destination in terms of funeral services that their family has requested of us," Tony said.

Thompson tested positive for the illness on April 2. She had been hospitalized for several weeks. Tony said she is believed to be the first communications operator to die in the line of duty in Florida.

Thompson, who was born in Miami and graduated from Miami Norland Senior High School in 1996, joined BSO in September 2003 as one of 400 public safety communications operators in the agency who answer more than 1.25 million 9-1-1 calls each year.

In one performance evaluation, a supervisor wrote: “She processes calls on the complaint desk and dispatches efficiently and independently without assistance. She is professional and courteous to her peers, first responders and callers.”

She was certified by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch and the Association of Public-Safety Communication Officials. In March 2009, she received her diploma from the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch of the United States of America to become a certified advanced emergency medical dispatcher.

Thompson is survived by her mother, Geraldine Wilson, her sister, Gina Stewart, and her four children, Aran Thompson Jr., 22; Isaiah Thompson, 21; Justin Thompson, 16, and Heaven Thompson, 14.

"The agency is focused to push through and do the things that are essential for us to be able to safeguard this community and although we are shaken, we are not broken," Tony added.