A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy who the department believes was infected by an inmate at its French Valley jail died from the coronavirus on Thursday, April 2, Sheriff Chad Bianco said.

Deputy Terrell Young, 52, was a 15-year veteran and the department’s first to die from COVID-19. He leaves behind his wife of 31 years and four children.

“He was a fantastic role model for his children,” Bianco said at an afternoon news conference. “Employees knew they could always depend on Terrell for good advice. He was known for his smile and he will be deeply missed.”

Young had a master’s degree in business administration and was active in his church. He showed compassion to his coworkers and inmates, Bianco said.

Young started with the department in December 2005 and worked at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, the Perris station, court services, the Southwest station, and the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in French Valley, said Bill Young, president of the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association.

“Our Association family, and law enforcement family as a whole, mourns (with) the community the tragic death of Deputy Young. The news of Terrell’s loss strengthens our resolve to work ever more closely with our health professionals to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Bill Young said.

Bianco said the sheriff’s department believes it has traced Terrell Young’s exposure to the virus to the week of March 16, when he escorted an inmate to Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley. Young returned the inmate to his cell at the 1,200- inmate Byrd Detention Center that same day. On March 22, Young arrived at his work station at the jail and fell ill, reporting a fever. The next day, Young and nine other employees called in sick, reporting coronavirus-like symptoms.

Of the 25 sheriff’s employees who have tested positive for coronavirus, 22 are assigned to Byrd, two to Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside and one to RUHS, Bianco said. Eleven inmates have tested positive.

Several employees — Bianco declined to say how many – are hospitalized, including one in critical condition. Sixteen employees and 51 inmates are awaiting test results. Sixty inmates are currently quarantined. No patrol deputies or others who have contact with the public have tested positive, Bianco said.

While Bianco said he knew the virus could not be stopped, the jail employee illnesses were a surprise, he said, considering measures taken to protect them. Inmates are screened by a nurse for coronavirus symptoms before being jailed. Anyone showing any kind of cold symptoms has been isolated, tested and quarantined. But health officials have announced that they recently learned that people who are infected but show no symptoms are capable of spreading the contagion.

“During the week leading up to Deputy Terrell being sick, no one who had called in sick had showed any symptoms,” Bianco said. “When they showed symptoms they didn’t come in. It has been very, very difficult to identify infected employees or inmates. … It hit it way too fast.”

The sheriff said inmates in the day room where Young worked have been tested and for “the most part” have come back negative for coronavirus.

Deputies have been redirected from court assignments to operate the jail. Bianco said he does not plan to release any inmates early.

The jails are closed to visitors except for attorney’s Bianco said. He also asked that people do not call the jails.

Young’s death is being classified as occurring in the line of duty. But it’s unclear how many of the rituals that typically accompany such a passing can be performed.

“This is a lot different than any other duty death that we’ve experienced,” Bianco said after pausing to gather his thoughts. “When this normally happens, there is a huge outpouring of support from friends and coworkers and extended family. And the unfortunate part of this is all of that is out the window. We can’t do anything, we can’t have contact with the family other than telephone, we can’t have contact with each other, the normal gatherings and support and funerals for one of our employees that dies from an on-duty death, and this is something we are all having to learn.

“There are a lot of emotions in the department. There’s a lot of uncertainty, there is a lot of anxiety, there is a lot of anger, there’s a lot of fear, and combine that with losing your friend,” Bianco said.

The sheriff said the department still has received an outpouring of support on social media and by phone, and he had a suggestion for other well-wishers — and criminals.

“If you really want to honor his death, stay home,” Bianco said.