Daniela Berson
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) A U.S. Capitol Police officer died Saturday while shoveling snow outside his home.

Vernon J. Alston, an officer on the Hill for almost 20 years, collapsed and died of a heart attack while helping his neighbors remove snow from their driveway.

U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said in a statement that Alston was a “fixture on the Capitol grounds while keeping the community safe.”

“I am always grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of the Capitol Police force and Officer Alston was an exemplar of that,” Reid said.

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