Law Enforcement, Community Come Out To Honor Alpharetta Cop

ALPHARETTA, GA — Law enforcement officers from across metro Atlanta came out in force on Friday afternoon to honor Alpharetta Officer Clinton Martin who died earlier this month from the coronavirus.

Officers and deputies from Alpharetta, Milton, Douglasville, Forsyth County, Gwinnett County and more were in attendance at Martin's funeral.

Alpharetta Police Chief John Robison posted that Martin died the morning of July 3 on the department's Facebook page.

"It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share with you that Officer Clinton Martin passed away this morning surrounded by his family," Martin wrote in the post. "We have lost a truly beloved and wonderful man. He has spent most of his adult life selflessly serving others through the military and law enforcement, and we will always be grateful for his servant's heart.

"I want to thank our wonderful Alpharetta community for all the love and support you have shown to Clinton and his family the last several weeks. I have no doubt you provided a tremendous blessing for Clinton and his family throughout his illness."

Martin, his wife, Maria, and two of their children, Clinton Jr. and Rosie, all tested positive for the coronavirus on April 23, the family wrote on their GoFundMe page.

"Rosie, Clinton Sr. and Maria got progressively worse, so on April 27 they had to be hospitalized," the post said. "Maria and Rosie were discharged from the hospital on May 4. Unfortunately, Clinton Sr. is still in the hospital due to the severity of his condition. The family could use our support as Maria is home but still not 100 percent healthy. Even after Clinton gets home, it will be a long road to recovery for him. With that been said, we are hoping that he will defeat the odds."

A second update on May 15 said Clinton Sr. was put on a new breathing treatment, which he was responding to. A few days later, Clinton Sr. wrote his own update on the GoFundMe page, saying he was COVID-19 free and out of isolation.

"I can sit up smile and read all of your responses now," he wrote in the post. "I am battling pneumonia and the ability to breathe on my own and the machine has to breathe for me at 95 percent right now, so I'm not out of the weeds yet, but I am positive according to what I have been told. I have along road to recovery and look for to the day I can be wheeled out of this place or walk out on my own."

After being back home for five days, Maria posted an update on June 25 that her husband had to be taken back to the hospital due to a low oxygen rate. Doctors then found blood clots in his lungs and he was placed in the ICU.

The last update was given on July 8 when Maria confirmed her husband had died.

"I am heartbroken," she wrote. "On Saturday, July 3, the love of my life, my husband, the father to my children has passed away with me by his side. Clinton has been battling for months and is now at peace. The world will not be the same without this amazing man, companion, and friend. We love you and we miss you."

The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety said anyone wishing to donate may visit the Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation website, with all donations going directly to the Martin family.