Police from the Hudson Valley are mourning the loss of a retired officer at just the age of 48.

The Town of Ulster Police Department announced that retired chief Anthony Cruise lost his battle with cancer.

Cruise, 48, was a 24 year veteran of the Ulster Police Department. He worked his was up the ranks from police officer, to detective, detective sergeant, lieutenant, and finally retiring as police chief.

Cruise began his law enforcement career in 1988 at the Ulster County Jail. He moved to the Town of Ulster Police Department in 1989. In 2012, he was promoted to chief.

“His passing will leave a void in the hearts of all those who knew him,” the Town of Ulster Police Department wrote on their Facebook page.

Cruise worked with many other local police departments, and many posted on Facebook about Cruise’s passing.

“Sheriff Van Blarcum and members of the Ulster County Sheriff's are deeply saddened by the passing of Retired Town of Ulster Chief of Police Anthony Cruise,” The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office wrote. “Chief Cruise was a well-respected leader in the law enforcement community and a close friend to many. The Ulster County Sheriff's Office expresses deep condolences to the members of the Town of Ulster Police Department and the family of Chief Cruise.”

“Our hearts go out to Chief Cruise's family and our brothers and sisters at the Town of Ulster Police Department for their loss,” Kingston Police wrote. “Many of us at the Kingston Police Department worked with retired Chief Cruise at some point in our career all of which considered him a friend.”

Funeral arrangements haven’t been announced.

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