BREWSTER – Tragedy has befallen the Brewster Police Department for the second time within the past two weeks.
Officer Jose Colon, 54, was pronounced dead at Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Peekskill-Cortlandt Friday night, after his car drove off Route 202 in Yorktown and slammed into a concrete abutment.
Colon retired earlier this year from the New York City Police Department and joined the Brewster department where he worked the overnight shift.
Brewster Chief John DelGardo described the fallen officer as “quiet and extremely professional. Our heart and prayers go out to Jose’s family and friends.”
Brewster Mayor James Schoenig was also deeply saddened by the loss. “I hired Officer Colon. He conducted himself with great professionalism and was an asset to our force. He will be missed.”
Authorities in Yorktown said Colon had contacted his wife around 6 p.m. after leaving a local gym advising he was experiencing chest pains. The officer’s phone suddenly went dead.
Moments later police received several calls of a car crashing off Route 202 and when patrols arrived minutes later, officers found Colon not breathing. He was administered CPR and rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
On April 27, the Brewster Police Department lost 57-year-old Sgt. Richard Gurniak who collapsed at police headquarters at the end of his tour and died.
