TRENTON -- A Trenton police officer who law enforcement sources say was under investigation recently died suddenly at his Gloucester County home Wednesday, officials said.

It was widely known among Trenton police officers Wednesday evening that Ed Leopardi killed himself. Officers could not discuss the circumstances because they were not authorized to talk about it.

Law enforcement sources confirmed Leopardi took his own life but they could not elaborate about because they were not authorized to discuss it.

Ed Leopardi (Peterson's Breaking News of Trenton)

Leopardi was a 22-year Trenton police officer and longtime K-9 handler.

Leopardi was also was a councilman in Franklin Township, where he lived. He was first elected to the township committee in 2013 and has served as a committeeman and as mayor.

Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr. confirmed Wednesday evening that Leopardi was deceased, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."

He also declined to comment on the circumstances of the death, which was under investigation by Franklin Township police and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, Parrey said.

Grief counselors will be available to city officers, especially those who worked closely with Leopardi, Parrey said.

The Gloucester prosecutor's office declined comment, and the Franklin police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Times of Trenton newspaper's archive is filled with news briefs since the mid 1990s in which Leopardi was an arresting officer, mostly as a K-9 officer.

He was being mourned on Facebook Wednesday night as a respected, well-liked veteran officer who consistently worked patrol on the streets of Trenton.

Leopardi also also served for many years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Hamilton, and was a Little League baseball coach and umpire.

The town of Franklin canceled a committee meeting Wednesday due to his passing.

"The township is very saddened," township administrator Nancy Brent said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Leopardi family."

"With heartfelt sadness, the Mayor and Township Committee learned today that our colleague Committeeman Ed Leopardi died suddenly at his home," the town said in a statement Wednesday evening.

"We ask that all residents of Franklin Township take this time to mourn Ed's passing and to take time to express their personal condolences to Ed's wife, Rene, and their family," the statement said.

Sources had identified Leopardi as being investigated for allegedly engaging in a sex act with a prostitute while at the department's K-9 training facility recently.

The investigation, by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, began when the woman was arrested last week on an unrelated charge and tried to use the alleged encounter to help her own case, sources have said.

Parrey and Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri declined comment on the matter Tuesday, citing the ongoing investigation.

Ed responded to all of the serious, violent calls in Trenton. He always treated me well at the scenes. I got a chance to... Posted by Brian McCarthy on Wednesday, September 21, 2016

-- Reporter Matt Gray contributed to this report.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.