Coronavirus claims life of 3rd Chicago police officer

CHICAGO (AP) — A third Chicago Police officer has died from complications of the coronavirus, the department said on Friday.

Department spokesman Tom Ahern said Officer Ronald Newman, 59, died early Friday morning.

According to Ahern, Newman was a decorated officer, having received 137 awards in his 19 years on the force. He said Newman spent the bulk of his career in the department’s 4th District on the city’s South Side.

He said Newman is survived by his wife, a civilian police department employee, an adult son and an adult stepdaughter.

Ahern did not immediately know when Newman tested positive. His death comes one week after the April 10 death of 56-year-old Sgt. Cliff Martin. On April 2, 50-year-old Officer Marco DiFranco became the first officer in the department to die after testing positive for the virus.