Chicago, IL – Chicago Police Department (CPD) Officer Gary Hughes died on Feb. 28, after a battle with stomach and liver cancers.

Officer Hughes, 50, a 19-year-veteran of the force, was diagnosed with Stage IV liver and stomach cancers in October of 2016, the Southwest Chicago Post reported.

“Gary was extremely protective of his family and supportive, keeping the family connected and always willing to lend a helping hand,” his brother, Jeff Hughes, posted to his memorial page. “Gary did all this and had his full time job with CPD and serving in the United States Army reserves.”

Officer Hughes enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 18, and served in Panama, Operation Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the Southwest Chicago Post reported.

He rose to the rank of Major shortly before his death.

“Upon retirement from the Army, Gary sought a career in Law Enforcement with the Cicero and Dolton Departments before going to the Chicago Police Department where he worked until forced into disability with illness,” the 11th District Department of Illinois Chaplain’s Page said.

Scott Maton, a longtime friend of Officer Hughes, fondly recalled an occasion nearly twenty years ago, when Officer Hughes surprised him by working his midnight shift on Christmas Eve.

“He said, ‘do you seriously think I would let you leave your family and go to work on Christmas?’” Maton wrote on Officer Hughes’ memorial page. “I looked at him puzzled. He then told me that he already planned on working for me. Gary left the party and let me have that time with my family.”

“As simple as that act sounds, he really made me change my perspective of the way I treated people since,” he wrote.

Officer Hughes is survived by his wife, Kimberly, his children, Justin and Kaylee, his mother, Joan, and his brothers, Jeff and Rick, the Southwest Chicago Post reported.

He was laid to rest on Mar. 5.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Chicago Police Department Officer Gary Hughes, both blood and blue. Godspeed, we will take the watch from here.

Thank you for your service.