Police departments in both Bedminster and Paterson are mourning the loss of officers who recently died from COVID-19.

Paterson police officer Francesco Scorpo died at the age of 34 after being diagnosed with the coronavirus. Scorpo joined the force in 2015 and was a member of the traffic division. He was a resident of Montville. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. 

Paterson police officers memorialized him this weekend, saluting the man described as a tremendous officer, father, son, and husband -- one final time.

Bedminster Patrol Sergeant Alterek Patterson died early Easter morning after battling COVID-19. Patterson began as a patrolman in 2006 and was promoted to sergeant in the Bedminster Township Police Department in 2014. Sgt. Patterson is remembered as a man who always had a smile on his face and touched so many residents at their time of need.

"It's tough,” says Pat Colligan, New Jersey President of the Police Benevolent Association.

“This is an enemy that we can't see and we can't arrest. We can't put our fingers on it. We bring it home to our families. It's been a unique learning curve for all of us. but the loss of these two officers is hitting us hard."