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By: Meyer Wolfsheim
A New York City police officer who was simultaneously serving in the U.S. Army National Guard has died while deployed overseas in support of an American military operation tied to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Officer Sorffly Davius, a member of the New York Police Department assigned to Brooklyn’s 79th Precinct, passed away while stationed in Kuwait during a deployment connected to Operation Epic Fury, according to reporting by the New York Post. Officials said Davius suffered a sudden medical emergency while on duty at Camp Buehring on March 6.
The NYPD confirmed the death in a public statement, saying the officer had been serving both his city and his country at the time of the incident. As the New York Post reported, Davius was also a major in the U.S. Army National Guard and had been deployed with the 42nd Infantry Division.
Davius had been part of the NYPD since 2014 and spent years patrolling Brooklyn neighborhoods as a member of the department’s 79th Precinct, which covers areas including Bedford-Stuyvesant. Alongside his police career, he maintained a military role that ultimately brought him to Kuwait during the ongoing regional conflict.
Authorities have not released specific details about the medical episode that led to his death. However, officials emphasized that he was deployed as part of U.S. military operations tied to Operation Epic Fury, a campaign connected to the broader confrontation involving Iran and American forces in the region, the New York Post reported.
His passing comes during a particularly tense period for U.S. troops stationed across the Middle East. According to reports cited by the New York Post, multiple American service members have been killed or wounded in recent attacks and military operations connected to the conflict.
Tributes quickly poured in from New York officials and law-enforcement leaders following the announcement.
In a joint statement, New York City leaders praised Davius for dedicating his life to public service. As the New York Post reported, officials described his career as one defined by protecting others — both as a police officer in New York City and as a soldier serving abroad.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also publicly mourned the loss, describing Davius as a “Citizen Soldier” who exemplified commitment to both community and country. She noted that he was not only a member of the military but also a devoted husband and father whose family is now grieving a profound loss.
Before his overseas deployment, Davius also served with Joint Task Force Empire Shield, a security initiative designed to protect high-profile and sensitive sites throughout New York City. That assignment placed him among officers responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure and potential terrorism targets across the metropolitan area, according to details cited by the New York Post.
Colleagues described him as a dedicated public servant who balanced two demanding careers — policing one of the world’s largest cities while maintaining his responsibilities as a National Guard officer.
His death has also drawn attention because it occurred amid the broader military campaign unfolding in the region. In recent days, several U.S. service members were killed in a drone strike targeting American forces in Kuwait, underscoring the dangers facing troops stationed in the area during the conflict.
