The Warsaw community is mourning the loss of one of its finest. On Tuesday afternoon, Warsaw Police Sergeant Terry Polston died after a long battle with lung cancer. Polston was just 52.

Sergeant Polston was most well known for his years as a D.A.R.E. officer in the Warsaw community, loved by thousands of kids. To his D.A.R.E. students, Sergeant Polston was better known as "OP" (short for Officer Polston).

Those who knew him say he was a guy with a huge smile and a heart of gold. As one Warsaw police officer put it, there's now a big void in the Warsaw community.

"Everyone loved him, he was just a really kind person and he's had an impact on so many people's lives," says Zach Breedan, a 7th grader at Edgewood Middle School in Warsaw.

For the past 17 years, Sergeant Polston has been a favorite among Warsaw's kids, a D.A.R.E. officer with a message that kids could relate to. "He kind of made stories into a way kids could understand, and he didn't just say 'don't do drugs,' he gave so much reason to it and showed so many things that it really helped," adds Breedan.

Within hours of his death, Polston's fellow officers had a memorial set up outside the Warsaw Police Department. Many people left messages on Polston's retired D.A.R.E. van.

"It didn't matter if you didn't know him, he was your friend, he'd do anything for you," says Bob Long, Polston's friend and fellow officer.

"He was here for a purpose, and that purpose was to make a difference in the lives of kids," adds Randy Polston, Terry's brother.

"He's this big lovable teddy bear that everybody just loved to hug," says another friend, John Sullivan.

Just two months ago, NewsCenter 16 caught up with Polston as he taught one of his classes. It was evident just how contagious his smile and personality was. "He didn't do it just for the job, he really cared how these kids were doing," adds Sullivan.

After a seven-year battle with lung cancer, Sergeant Polston has passed on, but not without leaving a legacy of lessons and laughs behind. "Loud, boisterous, always makes everybody smile, great laugh," says Long.

And even in his death, "OP" had his students on his mind.

"He said 'I'm only halfway through D.A.R.E., the kids need the rest of the D.A.R.E. lessons,' and I said, 'Terry, don't worry about it, we'll get that taken care of,'" explains Polston's brother.

Sergeant Polston is survived by his wife Mary and a son and daughter.

There is also a Facebook page online called "Prayers for OP." Many students are leaving messages there.

If you would like to pay your respects, Polston's memorial will be up through Sunday night. It's located outside the Warsaw Police Department on the corner of Fort Wayne and Harrison Streets. Everyone is welcome.

A memorial service will be held for Sergeant Polston this Sunday at 3 p.m., in the Warsaw High School gym. It will be open to the public.

(To read Alana Greenfogel's story from October, visit D.A.R.E. to survive: officer battles lung cancer)