GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -- A metro Atlanta police department is now grappling with the sudden loss of one of their officers after one organization reports he died in his sleep, Friday.
The Gwinnett County Police Department confirmed that Corporal Mike Warnke had died. A department spokesperson couldn't go into detail about what happened but did say that Warnke was a husband and father of an infant son.
A police support organization, Georgia Law Enforcement, also posted on the sudden tragedy saying the officer had died unexpectedly in his sleep from a natural illness.
"Our thoughts are with Mike's family and Gwinnett County PD," the organization's executive director, Greg James wrote. "I personally had the pleasure of working with Mike on several occasions and he was an amazing individual."
Since sharing the news, Georgia Law Enforcement's post has been shared thousands of times as hundreds have left their condolences for the family.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes & Crematory.
Warnke's funeral will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Peachtree Corners Chapel of the funeral home. He'll be interred on Friday at 9 a.m. at the Georgia National Cemetery at Canton, Georgia.
A crowdfunding account has also been established on behalf of Warnke's wife and child to help them financially through the sudden loss. The page has already raised thousands of dollars.
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