20-year veteran deputy with LA County Sheriff's Department dies of COVID-19

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 20-year veteran deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department died from COVID-19, the department announced Tuesday.

In a tweet, the department asked the public to keep the family and loved ones of Deputy Timothy Tellez "in your thoughts and prayers."

Tellez was assigned to the department's Parks Bureau.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva said he was "in shock and heartbroken over the loss of one of our dedicated (LASD) family members."

The department did not disclose when Tellez tested positive for the virus or when he died.

As of Tuesday morning, the agency reported a total of 1,913 employees, including more than 1,200 deputies, had tested positive for COVID-19 since authorities began counting.

More than 1,900 department employees are quarantining due to the virus, according to the department.

City News Service contributed to this report.