The Bridgeton Police Department is mourning the loss of a veteran police officer who died Sunday afternoon.

Black bunting covers a patrol car outside the police station and the flag is at half-staff to honor 49-year-old Officer Sean Peek. Peek died Sunday afternoon at home hours after his shift.

Bridgeton police officials say that Peek had worked an overnight shift during which he jumped into a river to save a suspect running away from police.

Authorities say that Peek was responding to a call for a woman striking an ambulance at a substation. The woman, identified as 29-year-old Sarah Jean Davis, allegedly ran off into a wooded area and either fell or jumped into the Cohansey River near the Washington Street Bridge. Peek jumped in the water to rescue her.

Police say that Davis made it across the river, but that Peek had trouble making it back to shore in his police gear. Davis was eventually caught and arrested. Peek was taken to the hospital for treatment and later released.

Peek’s family found him unresponsive at home several hours later.

“Regardless of what he was doing in that river, whether it was chasing a suspect or whether someone had fallen in, to law enforcement, there really is no difference. You raise your right hand and take an oath to protect people’s lives and that's what he was doing and in doing so made the ultimate sacrifice,” State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan said of Peek.

Peek leaves behind a wife and 8-year-old daughter. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. Funeral arrangements have not been released.

Davis is facing charges for allegedly burglarizing several city-owned buildings along Mayor Aitken Drive. She is accused of breaking windows and equipment, causing more than $1,000 worth of damage.