Boston University Police Department officer Ronald Gately died Thursday morning.
His cause of death has not been released, but Gately had previously been diagnosed with cancer. In close to four months, 360 people raised $32,115 for his medical expenses on the fundraising website GoFundMe as of Thursday morning.
Gately worked at BUPD for 21 years and was a police instructor for more than 30 years, according to posts by BUPD Chief Kelly Nee on the department’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as a post on the department’s Twitter account.
Nee described Gately as “a mentor to thousands of Police Officers across the Commonwealth.”
“Ron’s way of living and teaching has touched many and he will be greatly missed,” Nee wrote.