Sgt. Derrick Leto, an 18-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department, has died off-duty, city officials said. He was 42.
Leto was a role model who volunteered his time across Worcester and had a “far-reaching” impact on his colleagues and community, the police department said in a statement.
In the department, Leto served as the diversity officer and worked to expand the presence of underrepresented groups on the Worcester police force.
“I will be forever grateful for his service to the citizens of Worcester who he deeply cared about,” Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent said in a statement. “He will be dearly missed… we are heartbroken.”
Police did not say how Leto died.
He was married, had two children and served in the Marines prior to his police career, the department said.
In a statement to MassLive, City Manager Eric Batista requested privacy for Leto’s family as they mourn.
“My heart is heavy following the sudden passing of Sgt. Derrick Leto,” Batista said. “His loss leaves a huge void in the Worcester Police Department and among the entire City family. I was honored to have known Derrick personally as a fellow North High School graduate and athlete. Sgt. Leto served this country and city honorably and left his mark on the community in a profound way.”
The police department described Leto as an active community role model for “countless young people” who volunteered his time at the Second Baptist Church of Worcester, the Friendly House — a multi-service Worcester community nonprofit, and other organizations across the city.
“Sgt. Leto had a passion for providing youth with opportunities,” the police chief said. “He made a difference in our department, City and community and worked hard to make our visions a reality. Sgt. Leto made great strides in creating unity among the police and community groups and partners.”
In his role as the police department diversity officer, Leto led recruiting of new officers, the department said. In the last year, he started new programs that aimed to recruit candidates from groups underrepresented in the police ranks, including women and people of color.
“Sgt. Leto inspired everyone from strangers he did not know to our brothers and sisters here at the Worcester police department,” the department statement said.
Batista ordered flags at city buildings and public spaces to be flown at half-staff until further notice.
He also said the police department was providing peer support services to its members.
In his statement, he asked “that we set aside our differences and reflect together as a community on the value of humanity.”
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