NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The NYPD is mourning the loss of one of its detectives who passed away from the coronavirus, which has infected nearly 700 members of the department.
Det. Cedric Dixon is the department's first officer to succumb to the disease.
The 23-year veteran was assigned to the 32nd Precinct Detective Squad in Harlem.
"I've spoken to many of his friends and co-workers since this morning and he was known as the person who would do anything to help you. If you had something broken he was particularly fond of fixing technology and electornics. He is going to be so sorely missed," NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said Saturday.
“Detective Cedric G. Dixon’s nearly 23 years of dedication to fighting crime and serving New Yorkers was the epitome 'The Greatest Detectives in the World,'" said Detective Paul DiGiacomo. “The prayers of every member of the Detectives’ Endowment Association are with Detective Dixon’s family, and we will forever be here to support them. It is now more important than ever for every member of the public to heed the advice of healthcare professionals and stay home during this pandemic. Every person on the front lines of fighting COVID-19 needs their help.”
The detective is the third member of the NYPD to die from the virus in the last three days.
Giacomina Barr-Brown, a Civilian Member of the Service, died Thursday night in her home. Barr-Brown, a 7-year veteran of the NYPD, was assigned to the 49th Precinct Roll Call Office where she helped to ensure that patrol and administrative assignments were adequately covered on a daily basis.
City custodial assistant Dennis Dickson, who served with the NYPD since 2006, died from complications related to the coronavirus at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn.
"I cannot begin to describe what we are feeling, what the families of these three heroes are feeling," Shea said. "We are hurting, we are crying, and we continue to fight. We simply have no other choice. It is in our heart and it is in our soul to sacrifice, to serve, to fight for you."
Currently, 608 uniformed officers and 88 civilian members of the NYPD have tested positive for COVID-19.
On Saturday, 4,342 NYPD uniformed employees were on sick report, accounting for 12% of the department’s uniformed workforce.
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