By Police1 Staff

ALEXANDRIA, La. — A corporal died while getting ready to go on shift, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.

Corporal Robert Johnson, 43, was about to go on patrol May 31 when he collapsed in the parking lot. A passing motorist saw the officer hunched over and attempted to revive him with CPR.

Johnson was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was unknown but authorities believe it to be heart-related.

Johnson was an 21-year veteran of the department. He leaves behind a wife and three daughter ages 9, 6 and 5.

"Please keep Robert’s wife, children, family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as well as our Sheriff’s Office family, during this most difficult time,” Sheriff Earl Hilton wrote. “Robert will be missed greatly by all those who knew him.”