The Atlanta Police Department is grieving the sudden loss of one of its own, after an officer died from what appears to be a medical issue encountered while on the way to work, officials announced Thursday. The identity of the officer has not been disclosed pending family notification.
Authorities said the off-duty officer, who was headed to his shift, was found unresponsive in his vehicle outside the Atlanta Police Annex late Thursday. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, said the Atlanta Police Department in a statement obtained by Atlanta News First. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the officer was coming off a second job and had not yet started his police shift when the incident occurred.
In the hours following the tragedy, members from the officer's squad and personnel from various departments gathered at the hospital to honor his memory. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum expressed his department's profound sorrow and requested the community's support. "Our department is hurting now" Schierbaum relayed, emphasizing the need for thoughts and prayers for the officer's family.
A somber procession was also held, where fellow officers escorted the late officer's body from Grady Memorial Hospital to the Medical Examiner's Office. The outpouring of solidarity continued through the night as law enforcement officers paid their respects. The cause of the officer's medical emergency has not been made public, but to Schierbaum describes the impact of the loss on the department as deeply felt, reflecting the close-knit nature of the force.
