Longtime South Valley law enforcement officer dies of COVID-19

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Tulare County District Attorney's Office shared the somber news this week that former criminal investigator Frank Arnold died from COVID-19.

"Frank leaves many friends and family behind to mourn his loss and that includes TCDA's Bureau of Investigations, where he is remembered as (a) tenacious investigator, a good friend, and someone with (a) unique and dry sense of humor," the DA's office wrote in their post.

"Someone said he had the cleanest jokes around," said Robin Skiles, former Tulare County Sheriff's Office undersheriff. "And that's true. They were funny but they were always clean jokes. Frank had a great sense of humor."

Arnold, a Woodlake native, started his law enforcement career with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office in 1985.

He was assigned to various units during his 20 years with the department, including SWAT and homicide.

Skiles worked alongside Arnold, and remembers him as a good investigator and a good person.

"He was very dedicated to his job, he was very dedicated to his family," Skiles said. "So he did a lot for the citizens of Tulare County through his time in law enforcement. Very proud of that guy and he's going to be missed."

"Detective Arnold was just a man of integrity and well-known, well-liked," Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said. Boudreaux appreciates Arnold's decades of law enforcement service.

Most recently, he was a lieutenant with the state's Office of Protective Services at the Porterville Developmental Center.

It's not known how Arnold contracted COVID-19.

But Action News has learned that his wife also died from the disease.

They leave behind two sons, including one who worked at the Tulare County DA's office.

"I think it hits us all hard in the fact that this is an invisible enemy and anyone is prone to it," Boudreaux said.

Arnold was 65 years old.

Below is a statement from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS):

The Department of Developmental Services offers our deepest sympathies to the Arnold family and friends on the recent passing of Lieutenant Frank Arnold. In 2013, Lieutenant Arnold joined the Office of Protective Services (OPS) family as an Investigator and in 2016, Lieutenant Arnold promoted to Lieutenant, where he served as both the Administrative and Investigations manager. OPS provides specialized law enforcement services to individuals within the Developmental Services community. Lieutenant Arnold had a passion for his chosen profession and a sincere dedication to helping others. Lieutenant Frank Arnold is survived by his two sons (Frank Jr. and John) and four grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time.