Family And Friends Mourn Fallen Police Applicant

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- He wanted to be a Baltimore City police officer.  Now his family and friends are planning his funeral before he ever had the chance.

Derek Valcourt has more on the sudden death of a city police applicant.

He was not an officer and not even officially a recruit.  To become one, you have to pass a fitness test and sadly, he died trying.

On Facebook and Twitter, the condolence messages and tributes are pouring in for Gilnord Charles, who died suddenly during a fitness test to become a Baltimore City police officer.  He passed the civil service exam and on Friday, he had just finished running 1.5 miles at Northwest High School's track as part of a physical agility test when he collapsed.

"As fate would have it, there were two medics who were also completing the test as well.  Obviously, they rendered aid to the individual; unfortunately, they weren't successful.  He was then transported by medics to Sinai Hospital and regrettably he died a short time later," said Kevin Brown, Baltimore Police.

Charles, 29, graduated high school from Montgomery Blair in Silver Spring.  He went on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he earned a criminal justice degree in 2009.  He joined the Air Force and was recently searching for a job.

His family is now searching for answers why he died.

"Obviously preliminarily it looks as if it was heart-related, but until the medical examiner's report comes back, you really can't say for certain what the cause was," Brown said.

Charles leaves behind a wife and two children, one born just last month.

Police say Charles appeared to be in good physical condition and never mentioned any health problems.

Baltimore City police recruits must be able to run a mile and a half in less than 16 minutes and 28 seconds.