Friends and family gave a final farewell Tuesday to a Suffolk police lieutenant who died from COVID-19.

A full police funeral was held in Port Jefferson for Lt. Robert Van Zeyl, the first member of the Suffolk Police Department to die due to COVID-19 complications. He was 60.

The department says he became sick Jan. 3 and passed Jan. 20.

Van Zeyl spent over 35 years on the job -- joining the Suffolk Police Academy in 1985. He was a musician before deciding to become a police officer.

"He was a marvelous singer and a great guitar player, so I think that was really his passion, but I think his true passion in life was his children. I know he was an extremely dedicated parent," says Suffolk Police Chief Stuart Cameron.

Cameron has known Van Zeyl for a long time, having attended the police academy with him.

"His death was truly very heartbreaking for me, someone you've known for over 35 years," says Cameron. "As we started to vaccinate people, I was really hopeful that, hey, maybe we can get through this without anyone passing away. And to lose him at this point is heartbreaking in so many ways to me, I'm really devastated by it."

Van Zeyl worked in the 2nd Precinct. It isn't known where he contracted the virus from.

"A life of service is really not something that is for everyone, but to do it for 36 years was incredible. He was an incredible man," says Anthony Musacchio, Van Zeyl's nephew.

Van Zeyl leaves behind two children, both who are 14 years old.