The Oakland community is mourning the loss of a longtime first responder following his battle with COVID-19.

Gary Walker, 53, served as a fire chief at the Oakland Fire Department where he worked for 33 years.

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He was also a police officer with the Bloomingdale Police Department for 20 years.

Walker is the eighth police officer in New Jersey to die from the virus. He is survived by his wife, Danielle, and daughter, Demi.