An NYPD recruit died Wednesday during training, police said.
EMS rushed Officer Edgar Ordonez from the scene at Rodmans Neck in the Bronx to Jacobi Medical Center, but he could not be saved.
The recruit, who was in his 30s and would have graduated from the Police Academy on Monday, suffered a medical episode about 11:25 a.m.
Police sources said the heat could have been a factor.
Officers undergo firearms training at Rodmans Neck, though it wasn’t immediately clear what the recruit was doing when he collapsed.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban lamented Ordonez’s passing.
“Our hearts are heavy as we honor our fallen brother, Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez,” Caban posted on X. “We tragically lost Edgar earlier today, just a few days before he was set to graduate and join his fellow Finest protecting New York City.
“As we continue to grieve this terrible loss, we will keep Edgar’s family, friends, and fellow officers in our thoughts and prayers.”
Patrick Hendry, head of the Police Benevolent Association, called Ordonez “a beacon of joy and positive energy for his fellow recruits.”
“He had the drive and determination necessary to become a New York City police officer, and he was just days away from hitting the streets and making a difference in protecting our city,” Hendry said in a statement. “From the moment a police officer is sworn into the Police Academy, they become part of our Blue Family. Now we must focus on being there for his family as they deal with this unimaginable loss.”