Union County police officer dies at home; funeral Monday

UNION COUNTY — Patrolman Alex Luzardo, 41, a five-year veteran of the Union County Police Department and a Navy veteran, suffered a medical emergency at his home on May 13 and, as a result, passed away, said Union County Police Sgt. Christopher Stanaway, a member of the Patrol Division.

He will be laid to rest Monday.

"Luzardo was a dedicated officer who enjoyed interacting with the Union County community," Stanaway said. "His passion was to serve his country, and he did that admirably as a petty officer in the Navy and as an officer with this agency. He will be greatly missed by members of his family, this agency, and the Union County community."

Before coming to the Union County Police Department, Luzardo served for eight years as a petty officer aboard the USS Cleveland during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Luzardo graduated from the Union County Police Academy.

Luzardo was born in Montevideo, Uruguay and lived in Roselle most of his life and at the time of his death.

READ:Somerset County sheriff's officer to be honored on national memorial

Luzardo is survived by his seven-year-old son Alex Luzardo, Jr., his parents, Washington and Graciela Luzardo, grandmother Norma Ferrari and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

The Union County Police PBA Local #73 has set up a Go Fund Me page to support Luzardo’s funeral expenses, his family and his son’s future. As of Sunday morning, more than $19,000 has been donated to the cause.

The viewing will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Mastapeter Funeral Home, 400 Faitoute Ave., in Roselle Park. The burial will be held directly after the viewing at Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, 1500 Stuyvesant Ave. in Union.

email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin.