As President Trump sends off USNS Comfort to help with the ravaged state of New York, we learn that one of New York City’s men in blue has died of Covid-19.
According to the New York Daily News:
An NYPD detective has died from coronavirus, the first uniformed officer to succumb to the illness, authorities said Saturday.
We are sad to announce the passing of our very own @NYPD32Pct family member, Detective Cedric G. Dixon. Det. Dixon has passed away due to the COVID-19 virus, he was a 22 year veteran officer assigned to the Detective Squad. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. pic.twitter.com/FZ1jM0pKpV
— NYPD 32nd Precinct (@NYPD32Pct) March 28, 2020
Detective Cedric Dixon, 48, of the 32nd Precinct, died early Saturday after being admitted to North Central Bronx Hospital three days ago with flu-like symptoms, sources said.
The DEA is deeply saddened to announce the death of Detective Cedric Dixon due to #COVID19. Cedric’s 23 years of dedication to protecting our city is the epitome of “The Greatest Detectives in the World.” Our prayers are with his family. We will forever be here to support them. pic.twitter.com/1xLaORXu6N
— Detectives' Endowment Association (@NYCPDDEA) March 28, 2020
The burly investigator was a 23-year veteran of the force and suffered from a number of health issues like asthma. He was also diagnosed with diabetes while being treated at the hospital, officials said.
Two NYPD civilian employees previously died from coronavirus on Thursday: Giacomina Barr-Brown, an administrative assistant for the 49th Precinct in the Bronx, and custodian Dennis Dickson who worked at NYPD headquarters in Lower Manhattan.
“We have lost three members of our family in a little over 48 hours,” NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said Saturday. “As I stand here, I cannot begin to describe what we are feeling, what the family of these three heroes are feeling.
“We are hurting, we are crying and we are continuing to fight. We simply have no other choice,” he said. “It is in our heart and it is in our soul to sacrifice, to serve, to fight for you.”
Friends and colleagues described Dixon as a big-hearted man, Shea said.
- Dr E
