SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The San Diego Police Department is mourning the death of an officer who suffered a medical emergency while on-duty Tuesday morning.
In a statement, SDPD Chief David Nisleit said Officer David Sisto, 39, was on-duty in the Carmel Mountain neighborhood during a welfare check of a man who was reportedly under the influence.
Another officer arrived at the scene first, detain the man, and requested paramedics, according to Chief Nisleit. Officer Sisto arrived with his trainee to help but never came into contact with the man.
After several minutes at the scene, Officer Sisto began experiencing shortness of breath and a second ambulance arrived to take him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"It is with a heavy heart that I announce the tragic passing of one of our own ... I want to extend my sincere condolences to Officer Sisto’s loved ones. I also ask for the San Diego community to keep their thoughts and prayers with the Sisto family during this difficult time," Nisleit's statement read in part.
Sisto served with SDPD for more than a decade, Nisleit said. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Since the incident occurred while Sisto was on-duty, the department's Homicide Unit is conducting an investigation and working with the county's Medical Examiner to determine the cause of Sisto's death.
