NEW ORLEANS - Sgt. Maj. Manuel Curry, who was on city of New Orleans police force for more than six decades and was believed to be the longest serving full-time law enforcement officer in the nation, died Thursday. He was 84.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley said Curry died at an area hospital. The cause was not released.

Research done in 2002 by the New Orleans chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police found Curry had the longest active service career of any police officer in the country, police spokesman Bob Young said. He was still an active member at the time of his death, Young said.

Curry joined the department in 1946 and was in the city's Sixth Police District for more than 63 years.

He received several medals and was granted the special rank of 'sergeant major.' He is the only New Orleans police officer to ever hold that position, according to a statement from the department.

Riley said Curry stayed on duty during Hurricane Katrina, at 80 years old.

"This dedication exemplified his devoted and unrelenting commitment to the NOPD," Riley said in the statement.

In an article about his long career, Curry said he was injured several times on the job, but never seriously.

Curry said his most serious injury happened during World War II. He was part of the D-Day invasion with the 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach. Curry was not injured during the invasion, but was hurt a few weeks later when a German shell exploded.

Curry was one of only 100 U.S. veterans to receive the "Legion of Honor," France's highest civilian award, during ceremonies which recognized the 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 3, 2004.