Cleveland Cop Passes Away, Had Lakewood Roots

CLEVELAND, OH — 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.

"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.

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.

Messages of support poured in from across the state. Senator Sherrod Brown posted on social media, saying, "Our hearts break for Officer Vu Nguyen's family, the Cleveland Police Department and all those who knew and loved him. We are so grateful for his service."

This is so sad, I grew up with the Nguyen family. It looks like Vu is not going to make it. Keeping his family in my thoughts today. #Lakewood #Ohio SEE: Cleveland police officer hospitalized after collapsing during K-9 training https://t.co/k2xG9hjj9I — Maumee Mom (@MaumeeMom) July 6, 2018

Nguyen was reportedly a Lakewood High School graduate.

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Photo from Cleveland Police