BREWSTER – A member of the Brewster Police Department was pronounced dead at Putnam Hospital Center early Saturday after collapsing at the end of his tour of duty at Brewster PD headquarters.
Sgt. Richard Gurniak, 57, crumpled after hanging up his keys and despite efforts on the part of a fellow Brewster officer who found the stricken officer moments later and two members of the Putnam Sheriff’s Office — Sergeant Joseph Sadowski and Deputy Richard Planamenta — who rushed to assist when radio calls of an ‘officer down’ were broadcast on police radios, Gurniak could not be saved.
Gurniak was a retired member of the NYPD who joined the Brewster force two years ago.
As bunting was placed at the police station, Chief John DelGardo described the day as “one of the saddest in our history. This is the first line of duty death since the department was formed in 2006.”
The chief described Gurniak was a “great supervisor. He was loved and respected by the men and women of our department. We pray for his family.”
Officer Jim Phillips serves as president of the Brewster PBA.
Phillips said the entire force was “devastated by the sudden death. We are a small, tight department and feel the pain that Sgt. Gurniak’s family is going through. Rich was a good man who will be missed.”
Mayor Jim Schoenig recalled hiring Sgt. Gurniak. “He had a stellar career in New York City which carried over to Brewster. Richard was respected by the entire department. Sgt. Gurniak died what he loved doing—protecting residents of our community.”
A funeral is being planned in Rockland County.
