Flags To Be Lowered In Honor Of Death Of Cop, Avon Resident

AVON, OH — Avon resident and Cleveland Patrol Officer Vu Nguyen, 50, collapsed while taking part in a physical agility exam on July 2. In a tragic turn of events, he passed away on Friday at the Cleveland Clinic. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen has ordered all flags at city properties to be flown at half-staff in honor of Nguyen. The flags will be lowered on Wednesday and will remain at half-staff until sunrise on Friday, July 13. The mayor asked business owners in the city to also lower their flags in honor of Nguyen.

Nguyen was a 25 year law enforcement veteran. He had been with Cleveland Police since 1998. He was testing for a position with the K9 unit when he collapsed. It was at least 90 degrees at the time of the testing.

He was rushed to MetroHealth and then transferred to the Cleveland Clinic for further treatment. It was at the Clinic that he was placed on life support and then eventually passed away.

The family asked for privacy in their statement, though they noted how much they appreciate the outpouring of support from the community.

"The outpouring of support from the Cleveland community and beyond has been truly amazing and greatly appreciated. Patrol Officer Vu Nguyen is greatly loved by his family and by his brothers and sisters in blue," Nguyen's family said in a statement released by Cleveland Police.

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