Holly MatkinRoselle, NJ – Union County Police Department (UCPD) Officer Alex Luzardo died on May 13 after suffering a medical emergency at his home.
The 41-year-old officer’s exact cause of death was not released.
Officer Luzardo, a native of Uruguay, served as a petty officer with the U.S. Navy in both the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts prior to beginning his law enforcement career, NJ.com reported.
His friend and coworker, UCPD Sergeant Christopher Stanaway, said Officer Luzardo was an avid baseball fan who previously played on several amateur leagues.
Officer Luzardo began serving the UCPD approximately five years ago after graduating from the Union County Police Academy, according to his obituary.
“Alex was a dedicated officer who enjoyed interacting with the Union County community,” the Union County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 73 said in a statement to NJ.com “His passion was to serve his country, and he did that admirably as a petty officer in the Navy and as an officer with this agency.”
“He will be greatly missed by members of his family, this agency, and the Union County community,” the PBA said.
Officer Luzardo leaves behind his seven-year-old son, Alex, as well as his parents, grandmother, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins, according to his obituary.
A fundraising campaign established to help Officer Luzardo’s family in the wake of their loss has raised over $26,000 so far.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Union County Police Department Officer Alex Luzardo, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
