Bedminster Police Sgt. Dies Of Coronavirus

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Bedminster Township Police Sgt. AlTerek Patterson died Easter morning from the new coronavirus, the police department shared.

"Sergeant Patterson always had a smile on his face and touched the lives of so many residents at their time of need," Bedminster Township Police Department stated.

Patterson battled against the coronavirus and unexpectedly died early Sunday morning, police said.

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Patterson had graduated from the Somerset County Police Academy Recruit Class 35-05 in December 2005 and began his career as a patrolman in Bedminster on Jan. 1, 2006. Patterson was promoted to the rank Sergeant in October 2014.

"Please keep his family, friends, and members of The Bedminster Township Police Department in your thoughts and prayers," police said. "I ask that you respect the privacy of AlTerek’s family during this difficult time."

As of Sunday, Bedminster had two deaths and 23 positive cases of the coronavirus, according to the Somerset County Department of Public Health.

Somerset County has 1,598 cases and 78 deaths as of Sunday.

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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