An NYPD officer who was photographed in an iconic image with President Barack Obama was found dead in her Long Island, N.Y., home of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the New York Post reports.

Stephanie Moses, 40, was found by her girlfriend, Melissa McCoy, at her residence in Baldwin around 11 a.m. Moses joined President Barack Obama on May 5, 2011 when he placed a red, white and blue wreath at the 9/11 Memorial to mark the killing of Osama bin Laden four days earlier by Navy SEALs in Pakistan.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly had this to say of Moses’ death:

“On behalf of the New York City Police Department, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Stephanie Moses, who was, on so many occasions, the face of the NYPD on the national stage, as well as routinely at police ceremonies.”

“She epitomized professionalism in her appearance, conduct and dedication to duty. The department has suffered a great loss today that is felt personally by the many who knew and respected Sgt. Moses.”

Born and raised in Jamaica, Moses was a member of the NYPD for more than 17 years. She began her law enforcement career as a probation officer in 1994 after graduating from the City University of New York’s NYPD Cadet Corps. During her freshman year at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, she joined the police force.

In a 1994 interview with Newsday, Moses expressed high hopes for her future in law enforcement:

“My goal is to go as high in the department as I can . . . I enjoy helping people, listening to their problems and helping to solve them. I’m a people person and get along with people of all ethnicities and backgrounds because that’s how I was brought up.”

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