The South Florida law enforcement community was in mourning after a veteran Pembroke Pines police motorcycle officer was killed in a crash Thursday.
The crash happened in the area of 184th Avenue and Sheridan Street, where footage showed the motorcycle down in the middle of the street with debris scattered across the roadway.
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The officer was later identified as 54-year-old Charles "Charlie" Herring, a 22-year veteran of the department. He's the first officer who died in the line of duty in Pembroke Pines history.
"We lost a hero today," said Chief Kipp Shimpeno.
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Herring, a husband and father, leaves behind four children.
"We are hurting here but at the same time I have a family of this that’s also hurting," Shimpeno said.
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Pembroke Pines Police said a piece of debris fell from a tree and struck Herring, causing him to fall from his motorcycle. He later died, despite lifesaving efforts from officers and paramedics.
"Charlie, we’re here we’re watching over your family we’re watching over each other just like you wanted us to do every day that you were here,” Shimpeno said. "Charlie’s touched pretty much every person in this agency and so many people in the community and it’s definitely going to take some time and a lot of togetherness to get through this."
"It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the untimely passing of a Pembroke Pines Police motorcycle officer who died in the line of duty while serving and protecting our community," the department said in a statement Thursday. "We will continue to stand beside and support the officer's family through this difficult time."
Rod Skirvin, president of the Broward Police Benevolent Association, said Herring was on routine patrol when he was involved in a "freak accident."
"We're looked at with very jaded eyes, we want to tell you that we're out there to protect the community, to serve the community, and this officer died doing just that," Skirvin said.
A large law enforcement presence was seen at Memorial Regional Hospital where the officer was taken after the crash.
Hours after the officer's death was announced, police led a procession of his body from the hospital to the medical examiner's office.
Police had the area near the crash scene closed off while they investigated.
"He was known as a jolly guy...very friendly," Skirvin said. "Just an all-around good guy."
Herring was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served as a police officer in Starke, Florida for three years before he started working in Pembroke Pines.
"Not only was he my friend, he’s been with our agency for 22 years,” Shimpeno said. “I’m now in year 29, to say that we haven’t worked our entire careers together we have."
Officials haven't released any other information on the crash.
Check back with NBC 6 for updates.
