Friends and family are mourning a police officer who died over the weekend. Haverford Township Police Officer William Albertus passed away Sunday a week after he was hospitalized following a hockey game.
"He was a compassionate and great beat officer," said Haverford Township Police Chief John Viola. "Business people loved him. He was always out talking to people. He was the type of guy they enjoyed having around."
Chief Viola told NBC10 Albertus, 39, was hospitalized after playing in a police-firefighter hockey league game back on April 10 in Aston Township.
"He had an emergency on the ice," Chief Viola said. "He had severe stomach pain and fell over. He was able to get off the ice himself. He doubled over again."
Albertus was taken to the Crozer-Chester Medical Center where he died Sunday.
Chief Viola addressed earlier reports that Albertus died from a hockey-related injury.
"There was no hockey injury," Chief Viola said. "He was playing ice hockey and was struck with a medical emergency."
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Albertus was a seven-year veteran of the Haverford Township Police Department. He also served for three years with the Philadelphia Police Department before that. Albertus is survived by a wife and three children.
"We're going to miss Will," Chief Viola said. "He was really a great guy."
A viewing for Albertus will take place Friday, April 22 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. John Chrysostom Catholic Church on 617 S. Providence Road in Wallingford, Pennsylvania.
Another viewing will take place Saturday, April 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at 11 a.m. at St. John Chrysostom. A burial will follow at St. Peter and Paul cemetery on 1600 S. Sproul Road in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
A memorial fund was also created for Albertus' family.
"I just can't imagine losing my wife at a young age," Chief Viola said. "[We'll] do what we can to help them."
