NYPD Officer Sorffly Davius, 46, deployed with National Guard, dies in Kuwait

A U.S. Army National Guard major who also served as an NYPD officer died Friday from a "medical episode" while deployed in Kuwait, authorities said.

Army Maj. Sorffly Davius, 46, who was with the National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division, died at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, according to a Sunday statement from the Pentagon.

The Pentagon described his death as a "non-combat related incident," and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Davius died "following a medical episode."

"Officer Davius devoted his life to public service — rising to the rank of Major in the U.S. Army National Guard and joining the NYPD in 2014, when he was assigned to the 79th Precinct," Mamdani and Tisch said in a joint statement on Saturday. "His career was defined by service — to his country and to New York City. Our thoughts are with Officer Davius and his entire family as they mourn his loss. May his memory be a blessing."

The NYPD did not provide further details.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Davius, of Cambria Heights, Queens, was a “ ‘Citizen Soldier’ in every sense." He was a decorated Army veteran, she said in a statement.

Before deploying overseas, Davius served on Joint Task Force Empire Shield, Hochul said. The New York National Guard unit, created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, protects high-profile transit centers across the city from potential terrorist operations and responds to disasters.

"His life is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by our National Guard members, who balance their roles as citizens, first responders and soldiers," Hochul said.

Davius is survived by his wife and children, the governor said.

"We continue to pray for the safety of every service member and first responder protecting us at home and abroad," Hochul said.

Camp Buehring, located in northern Kuwait, is a staging base used by U.S. forces supporting operations in the Middle East. Iran has targeted locations in Kuwait with drone strikes after the United States and Israel began its attack on Iran on Feb. 28 and killed its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

The Pentagon said Davius' death is under investigation.

Newsday's Janon Fisher contributed to this story.