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Widow of late sheriff's deputy speaks out, is considering legal action against Sheriff's Office

The widow of Raul Salazar is speaking out for the first time since the passing of her husband.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The widow of a Nueces County sheriff's deputy who died back in late August following complications due to COVID-19 said she is exploring legal options against the sheriff's office.

Sergeant Raul Salazar was 52 years when he died. His wife, now widow, Priscilla Lamb-Salazar told 3 News she believes her husband contracted the virus while on the job.

"I lost my best friend, I shouldn't have to be a widow at 42 years old," said Priscilla Lamb-Salazar.

The widow of Sgt. Raul Salazar spoke out for the first time since her husband's death, publicly announcing that she is weighing legal actions against her husband's employer, the Nueces County Sheriff's Office.

"I refuse to allow my husband's death to be in vein," said Lamb-Salazar.

At the time of his death, Priscilla Salazar said her husband was just 2 years shy of retiring following a long career with law enforcement.

"My husband was dedicated to his job. He loved helping people," said Lamb-Salazar.

Priscilla believes her husband was put at a greater risk of catching COVID-19 after he was re-assigned from his duties as a patrol Sergeant to the jail and then to a hospital where she said he had to guard inmates who had the virus.

She claims the re-assignment came despite presenting the sheriff's office with a medical waiver from his doctor, because of his pre-existing conditions.

Priscilla said her husband was on a liver transplant list.

"We thought okay, they would put him in the control room at the jail. Their idea was to put him in the COVID floor at the hospital guarding COVID inmates," said Lamb-Salazar.

One week later, Salazar was admitted to the hospital on July 24th where he remained until his death on August 23.

"He caught this through work and not anywhere else, because he never went anywhere," said Lamb-Salazar.

Salazar said her husband's death was the result of an acute upper G.I. bleed due to COVID-19.

"My sole priority is to ensure the safety of the rest of the deputies and the jailers, so no other family has to live this nightmare I'm going through, ever, " said Lamb-Salazar.

Salazar said at this point she does not know if her husband's death will be officially listed as in the line of duty which would grant her family certain death benefits.

Nueces County Sheriff J.C. Hooper said the death of Sgt. Salazar was a tragedy.

"In respect to any civil litigation, I have the utmost respect for not only the criminal justice process but the civil justice process, and if in fact this death is investigated and laid out in a civil court in the future, that is when all the specific questions leading up to Salazar's death will come out at that time," said Sheriff Hooper.

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