Sicklerville, NJ – Mount Laurel Police Officer Erica Aybar-Morillo died suddenly at her residence on Oct. 7.

“This past weekend we lost our friend and sister, Officer Erica Aybar # 149,” Mount Laurel Police Chief Stephen Riedener said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “Erica passed away suddenly at her home.”

Her obituary for her funeral says that she “passed away peacefully at home.”

“We want to thank everyone for the tremendous outpouring of support and sympathy our Department has received in the wake of Erica’s sudden and tragic passing,” Chief Riedener continued. “It is comforting to know we are not alone… During this difficult time we ask that you keep Erica’s family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Officer Aybar-Morillo, 29, joined the department on July 8, 2013, after serving as a sheriff’s officer with the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department, the Moorestown Patch reported at the time.

Prior to her career in law enforcement, she served in the in the United States Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing as a senior airman, and was deployed southwest Asia in 2010, according to the Air National Guard website.

Officer Aybar-Morillo was also deployed to Iraq during her time in the military, the Moorestown Patch reported.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden passing of one of our members, Officer Aybar,” the Mount Laurel Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 191 said in a Facebook post. “Please pray for her family as they try to come to terms with their loss.”

“Erica, we have the line from here,” the FOP wrote.

Officer Aybar-Morillo’s friends and family described the Dominican Republic-born officer as a “self-proclaimed ‘Nerd,’” who cherished the time she spent with her loved ones, according to her obituary.

“Erica’s beautiful, infections smile will be greatly missed by those she leaves behind,” her obituary read.

Officer Aybar-Morillo is survived by her “long-time love,” Andrew Hambleton, her mother, siblings, nephew, and many friends and extended family members.

She was laid to rest on Saturday.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Mount Laurel Police Officer Erica Aybar-Morillo, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.