A patrol officer died early Tuesday morning while on duty after experiencing a medical emergency in Carmel Mountain, San Diego police Chief David Nisleit said.

Officer David Sisto, 39, began experiencing “shortness of breath” while responding to a call with his trainee and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the police chief.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the tragic passing of one of our own,” Nisleit said in a statement, adding that Sisto had been with the San Diego Police Department for more than 10 years.

Sisto leaves behind a wife and two young children, according to Nisleit.

“I want to extend my sincere condolences to Officer Sisto’s loved ones,” the chief said. “I also ask for the San Diego community to keep their thoughts and prayers with the Sisto family during this difficult time.”

According to Nisleit, officers in the Northeastern Division were called out around 2:50 a.m. to the Carmel Mountain neighborhood to check the welfare of a man who appeared to be under the influence of a substance. Another officer arrived first, detained the man and requested paramedics.

Sisto and his trainee arrived to help, but after several minutes, Sisto “began experiencing shortness of breath,” and his fellow officers called for another ambulance.

Because Sisto died while on duty, the Police Department’s homicide unit will investigate, Nisleit said. The county Medical Examiner’s Office will determine his cause and manner of death.

OFFICER DAVID M. SISTO Jr.

BADGE 4593, ID 6841

SDPD 07/23/2010 - 02/02/2021

07/31/1981 - 02/02/2021

THE THIN BLUE LINE

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