MILWAUKEE-- Members of the Milwaukee Fire Department continue to grieve as they remember a colleague dedicated to the community.
Firefighter Darrin Jones passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. He was off-duty at the time.
Colleagues told TODAY'S TMJ4 that he was known as "Superman," a title self-given, but earned through his decades of service.
The loss was jarring for firefighters DeWayne Smoots and Anthony Lewis, two public servants that knew Jones well.
"I'm still in disbelief," Smoots said. "I woke up thinking, is this a bad dream?," he said.
Leadership within the Milwaukee Fire Department recall his hard work.
"I was lucky enough to work with him as a firefighter," said Deputy Chief Aaron Lipski.
Friends said that the veteran firefighter was days away from returning from a work-related injury.
"He got hurt at work and said, I ain't going out like that," said Battalion Chief Smoots.
However, Jones never returned. His colleagues said that he was planning a retirement party, set to take place in May.
"His plan was to retire on Cinco de Mayo. He already sent our plans to his retirement party," Smoots recalled.
An autopsy has been scheduled for next week to determine the cause of death.
