(IBEXNews) - An NYPD detective has died from coronavirus, the first uniformed officer to succumb to the illness, authorities said Saturday.

Detective Cedric Dixon, 48, of the 32nd Precinct, died early Saturday after being admitted to North Central Bronx Hospital three days ago with flu-like symptoms, sources said.

The burly investigator was a 23-year veteran of the force and suffered from a number of health issues like asthma. He was also diagnosed with diabetes while being treated at the hospital, officials said.

Two NYPD civilian employees previously died from coronavirus on Thursday: Giacomina Barr-Brown, an administrative assistant for the 49th Precinct in the Bronx, and custodian Dennis Dickson who worked at NYPD headquarters in Lower Manhattan.

“We have lost three members of our family in a little over 48 hours,” NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said Saturday. “As I stand here, I cannot begin to describe what we are feeling, what the family of these three heroes are feeling.

“We are hurting, we are crying and we are continuing to fight. We simply have no other choice,” he said. “It is in our heart and it is in our soul to sacrifice, to serve, to fight for you.”

Friends and colleagues described Dixon as a big-hearted man, Shea said.

“I’ve spoke to many of his friends and co-workers since this morning and he was known as the person who would do anything to help you. If you had something broken, he was particularly fond of fixing technology and electronics. He is going to be so sorely missed," Shea said.

Dixon’s death comes as the number of cops testing positive for coronavirus has more than doubled since Thursday. The NYPD said 608 cops tested positive for the virus on Saturday, 38% more than the 442 who were positive on Friday and 107% more than the 294 who were positive on Thursday.

Police said 4,342 cops called in sick on Saturday, 12% of the uniformed workforce.

The surge in sick cops has forced the department to shuffle its personnel, moving detectives assigned to gang and narcotics units to precinct detective squads, for example.

“When we emerge from this crisis — and make no mistake, we will emerge from this crisis — may we never forget the sacrifice of those workers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep you and your family safe,” Shea said.

Det. Dixon joined the department in 1997 and worked at the 40th Precinct before getting promoted to detective.

“We will always be here for his family and we will never forget him,” Paul DiGiacomo, head of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, said Saturday.

The DEA bought 4,000 masks for its members, and also purchased gloves. A hand sanitizer shipment is on the way.

The union is also recommending its members use every precaution possible when investigating crimes, including wearing protective masks, gloves and a full Tyvek protective suit when responding to calls about dead victims.

“We are first responders, we are at a higher exposure rate than others and it is very difficult and uncharted borders for us," DiGiacomo said. "But we are out there doing the best job we can and this exemplifies what we are known for, the greatest detectives in the world, and Detective Dixon will always be known as the greatest detective in the world.”

Dixon’s death sent shockwaves through other first responders like the FDNY. As of Friday, 170 FDNY members tested positive for coronavirus and more than 2,000 firefighters, EMS members and civilian employees were on medical leave.

“New York City first responders, along with hospital workers and medical personnel, are the front lines in the battle against this virus," Gerard Fitzgerald, the president of the Uniform Firefighters Association said Saturday. “We will continue to stand side-by-side with New York City police officers in unity, as we share the core mission of keeping our city and its residents safe.”

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