WSP Detective Who Died Of COVID-19 Honored at Memorial Service

TACOMA, Wash. — Detective Eric Gunderson of the Washington State Patrol, who lost his life to COVID-19 last month, was honored at a memorial service on Monday afternoon at Church For All Nations in Tacoma.

Detective Gunderson died on September 26th surrounded by his family and friends at the age 38.

He was a technology liaison in the patrol’s Criminal Investigation Division and a member of the SWAT team.  He helped develop the agency’s use of drones and frequently traveled around the country to speak about it.  It was on a trip to the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Orlando, Florida that he contracted COVID-19.  His family chose not to make his vaccination status public.

“We will show our fallen hero the respect and honors his service to our state and agency deserves,” said Chief John R. Batiste.

Detective Gunderson worked for WSP for nearly 16 years.  He’s the 32nd member of the Washington State Patrol family to die in the line of duty.