Following a months-long battle with liver cancer, a beloved New York City detective and Iraq War veteran died on Tuesday at the age of 38.
Det. Sammy Lee, who was assigned to the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau, was diagnosed in July of last year, according to his friends.
Lee, a father of two with nearly a dozen commendations on his record, was described by one police source as “one of the best guys in the world.”
“Everyone liked him,” the source said. “Never heard a negative comment about him. Just an all-around great guy.”
A video obtained by The Post shows dozens of cops lining a Queens street overnight into Wednesday to honor the fallen officer as his body was wheeled out of an ambulance.
Lee, who joined the NYPD in 2009, was an Army veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he worked near dangerous burn pits, according to union officials, which caused his cancer.
He leaves behind a wife and two children, ages one and two.
“Sammy is known around the precinct for his fun, carefree attitude that helps everyone get through the day with a laugh,” a fundraiser launched last year said about Lee. “He’s also known for his strong work ethic and helpfulness to those in need. He is a husband and father of two young children. “
The Detectives Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo said in a statement, “Sammy epitomized courage.”
source:nsemwokrom.com