Longtime Broward Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatcher dies from the coronavirus
A 911 dispatcher who worked for the Broward Sheriff’s Office for more than 15 years died Monday after fighting the novel coronavirus for more than a month, the agency announced.
Nikima Thompson, a 41-year-old mother of four, joined the department in 2003. Her last day on the job was March 26.
“The dedicated work of our communications operators is vitally important. They are often the unsung heroes who the public first encounters when they call for help,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said in a statement. “Like her colleagues, Nikima often served as a lifeline, connecting 911 callers to public safety responders. Her loss is deeply felt by all of her BSO family.”
The Miami-native, who graduated from Norland Senior High School in 1996, had been in the hospital since April 2 when she was diagnosed with COVID-19, BSO said.
“She had to go on a ventilator and fight this battle for quite some time and her family had to make a very difficult decision — as most of her organs and things of that nature had failed — and they had to remove her from a ventilator,” Tony said during a news conference Tuesday morning. “They made that decision last night ... and of course Nikima lost her life to this virus.”
Most recently, Thompson was assigned to the North Regional Communications Center in Coconut Creek. She is believed to be the first dispatcher in Florida known to have died from COVID-19, Tony said.
“Keep your prayers at heart not only for this agency but for her family. She leaves behind four kids, siblings and many other loved ones who are suffering from this,” Tony said. “Her mother herself is currently fighting this COVID-19 and is dealing with a very similar battle as she is navigating through her health issues.”
Thompson is the second BSO veteran to die from COVID-19. Last month, BSO veteran deputy Shannon Bennett died from the disease. It’s believed he contracted the disease “in the line of duty.”
Tony says the department is preparing an honor escort for Thompson. Information about her funeral and service arrangements are still pending.
She 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.
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 6:08 AM.
