An off-duty officer with the New York Police Department was found dead of an apparent suicide in his mother's Queens residence.

According to the New York Post, sources said second-grade Detective Paul Federico, 53, was found hanging in the house.

The 29-year veteran was a 9/11 first responder who helped search for human remains amidst rubble from the 2001 terrorist attack in New York City. He'd also lost a kidney to cancer within the past two years, sources said.

A source told the New York Post that the detective had been recently placed on modified duty and had his guns taken from him.

Editor's Note: If you or someone you know has ideation of suicide or is approaching crisis, please know that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255), provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress. Safe Call Now (1-206-459-3020) offers those services specifically for first responders.

On a website maintained by BlueH.E.L.P.—an organization that tracks officer suicides while simultaneously seeking to prevent such tragedies from occurring—a first responder need only enter a few data points—such as their location and what kind of assistance is needed—and the individual will be provided with a list of options for help from a searchable database dedicated to helping first responders find emotional, financial, spiritual, and other forms of assistance.