A wake was held Tuesday for Union City Police Officer John Kamel – the third Union City police officer who has died since December.

Officers attended a vigil Sunday night in Kamel’s honor outside the Union City Police Memorial Park. Police officials also addressed Kamel’s death during a community police meeting held Monday.

“[It’s] a great loss to the department,” said Union City Police Captain Joseph Botti. “I saw in Officer Kamel someone who would work up the ladder and be a supervisor.

Kamel died last week in motorcycle crash on his way to work. He is the third Union City police officer to lose his life in less than eight months.

Officer Ricky Fernandez died of medical complications in December, and Officer Mark Zeitounian was killed in a car crash in May. Like Kamel, Zeitounian was on his way to work.

“In my 20 years as a police officer, I think we lost two officers in 20 years,” Botti said. “To lose three officers in seven months, it’s unbelievable.”

A funeral will be held for Kamel Wednesday.