By Tim Hrenchir
The Topeka Capital-Journal
TOPEKA, Kan. — A staff member at Topeka Correctional Facility died Saturday of complications from COVID-19, Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Jeff Zmuda announced in a news release Tuesday.
He identified the victim as 74-year-old Richard Rose, who had been with the corrections department for more than 17 years.
Rose was a facility maintenance supervisor and spent most of his time away from the prison, located at 815 S.E. Rice Road, Zmuda said in a news release.
Rose became the corrections department’s third staff member to die for reasons related to COVID-19, with the other two having been employees at Lansing Correctional Facility, he said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of too many hard-working Kansans,” Gov. Laura Kelly said in Tuesday’s news release. “Richard was a dedicated public servant and I extend my condolences to both his family, friends, and those who worked alongside him.”
Rose was among six Shawnee County COVID-19 victims who died last week.
County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino said that marked the most lives the disease has claimed in any one week in Shawnee County, with the previous high having been four.
Topeka Correctional Facility is Kansas’ only all-female prison, with a capacity of 948.
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