He protected and served the people of Manatee County for years, but now Deputy Douglas Clark's watch has ended.

The sheriff's office announced on Thursday that the veteran law enforcement officer had died after fighting COVID-19 for nearly two weeks in the hospital.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Deputy Clark”, Sheriff Rick Wells said. “I ask that you please keep his family, friends and the entire MCSO family in your thoughts and prayers.”

In a Facebook post, the agency said Deputy Clark joined the Manatee County Sheriff's Office in 2018 and served for 13 years in the Corrections Bureau.

"Doug was often referred to as a hard worker who tried to approach each day with a positive attitude," the post reads. "He will be missed."

Deputy Clark will be laid to rest next week with full law enforcement honors.

He was 67 years old.