ST. JOHN, Ind. (WLS) — A Northwest Indiana police officer died after suffering from a medical emergency while playing hockey on Friday night, officials said.

St. John Police Chief Steven Flores said officers and first responders with the local fire department responded a call about a man who became unconscious at Midwest Training and Ice Center just before 10 p.m.

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When officers arrived at the facility, located at 10600 White Oak Avenue, they saw bystanders performing CPR on the man, who they recognized as one of their fellow officers, Detective Aaron Amptmeyer.

First responders performed CPR on Amptmeyer, but were unable to revive him, Flores said.

Flores said Amptmeyer started his law enforcement career at the Gary Police Department in 2005 before transferring to the Dyer Police Department in 2007 and joining the St. John Police Department in 2018.

Flores described Amptmeyer as a father and a “highly decorated police officer who worked through the ranks of patrol officer, tac officer, detective and his most important and passionate position, commander of the Northwest Regional SWAT Team.”

Flores continued, “Detective Amptmeyer touched so many lives and has been so instrumental in developing young police officers. He loved his SWAT team and all of us at St. John Police Department loved him. He was a devoted father to his lovely daughter who he cherished more than anything in the world. Aaron is loved and will be missed by so many. On behalf of the entire St. John Police Department, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to Aaron’s family. Aaron will never be forgotten.”

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow officers of the St. John Police Department following the tragic loss of one of their own, Officer Aaron Amptmeyer, who passed away while he was off duty last night,” Lake County Indiana Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said in a statement. “The Lake County Sheriff’s Department stands with our brothers and sisters in blue during this difficult time and we keep them in our prayers.”

Further details were not immediately available.