MIDDLETON — Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger issued a statement on Friday morning announcing the line-of-duty death of Correctional Officer Anthony J. Pasquarello, 37, of Saugus.
“Officer Pasquarello died Dec. 9, 2021 of complications from COVID-19,” said Coppinger. “He was a 15-year veteran of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. He leaves behind his parents, Mario and Norine; his 6-year-old son, Vincent; his fiancée, Rio Joyce Mendoza; his sisters, Maria and LisaMarie, and several aunts and uncles.
“Officer Pasquarello was a courageous, dedicated member of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department who served with great distinction, and we are simply devastated by his passing. His service to our department, as well as the good people of Essex County, will always be honored and remembered. We pray for his family during this very difficult time, as well as for his brothers and sisters at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department who are in great mourning over his passing,” said Coppinger.
At 10 a.m. Friday, Coppinger and the Essex County Sheriff’s Department were joined by Massachusetts State Police and local police departments at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, where they escorted the body of Pasquarello to the McDonald Funeral Home at 19 Yale Ave. in Wakefield.
Pasquarello’s family were joined by members of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department for a candlelight vigil in his honor on Friday evening at the Essex County Jail and House of Correction at 20 Manning Ave. in Middleton.
