Dallas officer killed by COVID-19 remembered at vigil

Dallas officer who died of COVID-19 remembered at vigil

Fellow officers remembered Sr. Cpl. Arnulfo Pargas, who died last week following a three-month battle with COVID-19.

DALLAS - Dallas police remembered an officer who lost his battle with COVID-19.

They held a vigil for Sr. Cpl. Arnulfo Pargas, Jr. Wednesday night at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy Baseball Field in West Dallas.

Sr. Cpl. Pargas died last week following a three-month fight with the virus.

Fellow officers pledged to support his family.

"Pargas family, just know that if you ever need anything just reach out to us. I will always go whenever I’m needed and even if I’m not I’m still going to go and show up to check on everyone. We’re all going to be here. We’re a bigger family," an officer at the vigil said.

Angela Shaw, the assistant chief for DPD’s Community Engagement and Operations Bureau, said Sr. Cpl. Pargas was beloved by the Dallas community. Some even called him the West Dallas Hero.

"Before anything else, people like Artie are rare. We appreciate him and his legacy will live on," Shaw said of her friend.

Dallas officer killed by COVID-19 to be remembered at vigil

A Dallas police senior corporal who died from COVID-19 will be remembered Wednesday night during a vigil. Good Day talked to DPD's Community Engagement and Operations Bureau Asst. Chief Angela Shaw about the life and legacy of Sr. Cpl. Arnulfo Pargas.

Family and friends said he had planned to get vaccinated but got infected first.

"If you decide the vaccine is right for you, that needs to be the most important thing today, not tomorrow. Tomorrow’s not promised," Shaw said.

Sr. Cpl. Pargas leaves behind a wife and their children.

He’s the third member of the Dallas Police Department to die of COVID-19.

His funeral services are set for Thursday afternoon at The Potter’s House in Dallas.