Family, friends and members of the South Bend Police Department are mourning the loss of Lt. Geoff Forizs.

The 25 year veteran of the department lost a battle against tonsicular cancer on Friday, May 15, which was his 60th birthday.

Forizs was a member of the Honor Guard and part of the Hostage Negotiation Team and served as a supervisor for many years, according to South Bend Police. Forizs was also an active member of the FOP.

His fellow officers say they will remember how he made others laugh and smile and that he was a person everyone loved to work alongside of.

They also describe him as a devoted husband, father and grandfather.