Cocoa police code enforcement officer dies after nearly a month of COVID-19 complications
A Cocoa Police code enforcement officer died after about a month of battling COVID-19 complications Saturday evening, a spokesperson for the department said.
Steve Murdick, 51, a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, joined the Cocoa Police Department in March 2016 as a civilian employee serving as a code enforcement officer, said Yvonne Martinez, a spokesperson for the Police Department.
“Steve had a heart for service and was very dedicated to doing his job and doing it well,” said Chief Evander Collier IV. “He was extremely popular and loved by many. He will be missed greatly.”
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Prior to joining the Police Department, he served in the Coast Guard for more than 26 years and retired in Aug. 2017 as a machinery technician first class, Martinez said. He deployed for two years following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and served during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and G-8 Summits. Over the course of a year, he provided waterside support at ports in the North Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf in the Middle East on Camp Patriot with Port Security Unit 307 and Navy MSRON 4.
During his time in the Coast Guard, Murdick held qualifications as a boarding officer, engineer, boat crewman, watch stander and machine gunner on small boat platforms, Martinez said.
At the Cocoa Police Department, he was named Employee of the 2nd Quarter 2021, Martinez said.
It was not immediately known if Murdick was vaccinated against COVID-19 or what complications he suffered from the virus.
Family members couldn't be reached Tuesday.
A service will be held 5 p.m. Wednesday at North Brevard Funeral Home, Martinez said. There will be a funeral Mass Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mims with a reception in the parish hall. Friday, an escort will go to Cape Canaveral National Cemetery for a 9 a.m. interment. Those wishing to view the interment must arrive at 8:45 a.m.
Finch Walker is a Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at 321-290-4744 or fwalker@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @_finchwalker
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: COVID complications: Cocoa code officer dies after month-long battle
