Crime & Safety
Former Woodridge Cop Dies of Heart Attack at 29
Andrew Elliott Rusticus served in the Woodridge Police Department for three years.
A former Woodridge police officer died of an apparent heart attack while jogging Saturday, according to MLive Grand Rapids.
Andrew Elliott Rusticus served in the for three years before becoming a police officer in Grand Rapids, MI.
According to MLive Grand Rapids, during his service in Woodridge, he was awarded for valor "for arresting a suspect who shot at officers, given a lifesaving award for performing CPR on an infant and received two commendation awards for professional responses to criminal incidents."
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“It’s a tremendous loss,” said Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk told MLive Grand Rapids. “We are just in absolute shock that someone this early in a very promising career was taken away at age 29.”
Rusticus was training for an upcoming physical agility test for a canine handler position with the department.
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A neighbor found him "slumped on the edge of the road" near his home around 2 p.m. Saturday. He was pronounced dead around 7 p.m.
Rusticus is survived by his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, Baylee Noel, 3, and Libby Grace, 3 months, according to MLive. Funeral arrangements are pending.
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