Harlem Detective Is 3rd NYPD Member To Die Of Coronavirus

HARLEM, NY — A third member of the New York City Police Department has died from the new coronavirus, only two days after the department lost its first worker to the pandemic, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced Saturday.

Harlem Det. Cedric Dixon, who had been on the force 23 years, died early Saturday and was the first uniformed member of the NYPD to succumb to the coronavirus, officials said.

His death comes just 48 hours after Giacomina Barr-Brown, a civilian member of the NYPD in the Bronx, died in her home and Dennis Dickinson, the first NYPD member to die from the virus, died in Kings County Hospital on Thursday.

"We have lost three members of our family in a little over 48 hours," Shea said at a press conference. "We are hurting, we are crying and we continue to fight — we simply have no other choice."

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Shea said that Dixon was known by his colleagues in the 32nd Precinct as someone who would "do anything to help you." He particularly enjoyed helping members of the precinct fix their electronics and technology, he said.

"He is going to be so sorely missed," Shea said.

The three NYPD members are among several city employees who have died so far from the coronavirus. As of Friday evening, 450 people in New York City had died from the virus.

Barr-Brown had worked for the NYPD for seven years and was assigned to the 49th Precinct Roll Call Office.

Dickson, 62, was a 14-year veteran with the NYPD who worked a marathon 17 days after Hurricane Sandy ravaged 1 Police Plaza in downtown Manhattan, Shea said.

Irene Weiss, a 21-year veteran of the Department of Transportation, also died on Thursday, officials said. David Perez, an investigator at the Department of Correction, and Dez-Ann Romain, a principal at Brooklyn Democracy Academyhave also lost their lives due to the virus.

"When we emerge from this crisis — and make no mistake we will emerge from this crisis — may we never forget the sacrifice of those workers who put themselves in harms way to keep you and your family safe," Shea said.