Bella Vista police officer dies after fight with covid

BELLA VISTA — A Bella Vista police officer died Saturday after being hospitalized with covid-19 since mid-September.

The Police Department announced on Facebook on Saturday evening Officer Christopher Cummins died.

“It is with heavy hearts we mourn the passing of one of our own today, and offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Officer Cummins,” the Facebook post stated.

Cummins, 38, started his law enforcement career in 2009. He’d worked for four other police departments, including Centerton, before joining the Bella Vista Police Department, according to his obituary.

A procession of police officers escorted Cummins from Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville to a funeral home in Bella Vista late Saturday afternoon.

The Bella Vista community had rallied around Cummins’ cause, raising money for him while he remained in Northwest Medical Center’s ICU on a ventilator. A GoFundMe account established earlier this fall had raised $6,640 as of Monday afternoon.

Neighbors also gathered for a prayer vigil for Cummins, his family and his doctors on Northwest Medical Center’s lawn in Bentonville on Sept. 20. That night, people also were invited to show their support and pray for Cummins in the Allen’s Food Market parking lot.

“We offer our deepest condolences to Officer Cummins’ family in this time of grief,” Mayor Peter Christie said. “I also wish to truly thank our community for their support of

Officer Cummins’ family and loved ones, as well as for every officer of our Police Department. Each member of our Police Department is touched by this loss, and we appreciate our residents’ continued backing of this department as they work through a difficult time.”

A funeral service for Cummins will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Cross Church, 2448 Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, according to his obituary. It will be open to the public.

The procession prior to the funeral will be for family and law enforcement only. This procession will begin at 9 a.m. at Bella Vista Funeral Home, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., and follow Rogers Road to Lancashire Boulevard to U.S. 71, then to Interstate 49 to the exit at Pinnacle Hills, said Cassi Lapp, city communications director.

Cummins is survived by his parents, his fiance and two children, according to his obituary.