NYPD hero dies at home after courageous battle with pancreatitis

After a courageous battle with pancreatitis, an NYPD hero has been laid to rest, The Post has learned.

Officer Ryan Finlay was 40 years old when he passed away in his home in upstate Monroe on Monday.

Finlay, a Marine combat veteran who grew up in Maine, started with the NYPD in July, 2004 and had been a beat cop at the Midtown South precinct for 16 years before leaving his post to receive medical care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, according to a video tribute to him posted by the hospital.

After six years of intense and painful treatment, including at Columbia University Medical Center, he was able to return to his dream job as a New York City police officer.

In November 2015, he was a recipient of the Theodore Roosevelt Award –– an honor bestowed on cops who return to duty after suffering an illness or injury.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Congrats to all recipients of the Theodore Roosevelt Award. To our own PO Ryan Finlay we are glad to have you back! <a href=”https://t.co/yM0WiQiS1Z”>pic.twitter.com/yM0WiQiS1Z</a></p>— NYPD Midtown South (@NYPDMTS) <a href=”https://twitter.com/NYPDMTS/status/663714802074853376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>November 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://freelanews.com/wp-content/litespeed/localres/aHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS93aWRnZXRzLmpz” charset=”utf-8″></script>

”He was a great guy,” a former supervisor told The Post.

“Always stayed cool. A solid cop and liked by everyone – even the prisoners who he bought food for. “

Finlay fought in the Gulf War, colleagues told The Post.

His viewing will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, at Smith, Seaman and Quackenbush Funeral Home, 117 Maple Ave., Monroe, NY.

His funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Sacred Heart Church, 26 Still Road, Monroe, NY. Interment will be private.