The New York City community is in sorrow after the passing of a former NYPD officer, who reportedly suffered a heart attack while clearing snow during last weekend’s significant winter storm.
Roger McGovern, a 60-year-old retired sergeant, collapsed on Sunday while shoveling snow at Our Lady of Victory Church in Floral Park, Long Island. His friend, Kevin Troy, shared that he was in the church and had a seizure, and sadly, by the time they reached the hospital, he was gone.
McGovern had walked a mile in frigid conditions to help clear a path for parishioners attending Sunday Mass at the church where he was not only an usher but also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He had spoken with the priest before heading outside to shovel the sidewalk but collapsed before he could even start.
According to CBS 2, the unfortunate incident was indeed a heart attack. The Sergeant Benevolent Association noted that McGovern’s commitment to serving others continued even after his retirement, stating, “Sergeant McGovern passed away while assisting the community during a recent snowstorm after dedicating his life to service to this city.”
McGovern had retired from the NYPD back in 2008, as confirmed by city officials.
As of Tuesday, the severe winter weather resulted in officials reporting eight fatalities, with New York City seeing 8 to 15 inches of snow in some locations. In total, 36 individuals had lost their lives across 14 states due to the impacts of the winter storm that affected the Northeast over the weekend.
