Service held for correctional officer who died of COVID-19

HOQUIAM, Wash. (AP) — Friends, family, and coworkers will honor the life of a correctional officer who died of COVID-19 with a memorial service Wednesday in Hoquiam. Gabe Forrest died in June from COVID-19. The state considers it a “line of duty” death. Forrest is the third Department of Corrections officer to die from coronavirus. Berisford Morse died in May and David Christensen died in December. Thirteen inmates have died from the virus, according to the department’s website. Forrest worked at Stafford Creek Corrections Center near Aberdeen for more than 18 years. He was elected “Correctional Officer of the Year” in 2018.