Chicago Police Officer Dies of COVID-19

A veteran officer with the Chicago Police Department has reportedly died from Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

According to NBC News , 50-year-old Marco Di Franco—a highly-decorated 21-year veteran of the force who worked in the narcotics division—contracted the virus last week and was hospitalized over the weekend.

Officials announced Di Franco's passing in a social media post on Thursday.

Agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter, "We are devastated to confirm that #COVID19 has hit the Chicago Police Department and a dedicated family of city public servants very hard. We will join Mayor Lori Lightfoot at 11am at a press conference to provide additional detail.

"Unfortunately the severity of the virus became overwhelming and he passed away," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

Officer Di Franco is survived by his wife and two children.