Incident
Police Officer Victor Estefan was shot and killed while making a traffic stop of a car that was driving with no headlights in front of 3315 SW 9th Terrace. As he approached the vehicle to get the driver's information he was shot and killed. The suspects, who were brothers, were arrested in southern California after a shootout with the California Highway Patrol during a nationwide manhunt. Both suspects were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1997 the Florida Supreme Court overturned their convictions stating they had not received a fair trial. In March 2013 a jury declared a mistrial for the alleged gunman. The two brothers were sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder of the California Highway Patrol officers. Officer Estefan had served with the Miami Police Department for 21 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and grandson.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
21 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Estefan gave the Miami Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Estefan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Victor Estefan served in the U.S. Army (1959â1964) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Miami Police Department has lost 39 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
Victor is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.2% of the 1,007 remembered there.
Victor is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Victor is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1988, 2 officers at Miami Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1988, 10 officers in FL were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1988, 105 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 58th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Victor was 49. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Miami Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.5 and 41; the middle age was 32. Victor had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Victor was 49. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Victor had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Victor was 49. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Victor had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Victor was 49. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Victor had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 15% of these deaths at Miami Police Department; November holds the most, 15%. Thursdays: 15%.
March holds 8.2% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 51.3% of all 39 deaths at Miami Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.2% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 23.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Miami Police Department has 39 officers remembered here, Victor among them.
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John Rhinehart Riblet Jun 2, 1915
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Frank Angelo Croff
May 22, 1921
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Richard Roy Marler
Nov 28, 1921
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Laurie Lafayette Wever
Mar 15, 1925
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John D. Marchbanks
Feb 16, 1926
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Samuel J. Callaway
Jan 10, 1927
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Jesse L. Morris
Jul 8, 1927
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Albert R. Johnson
Sep 25, 1927
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James Franklin Beckham
Feb 3, 1928
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Augustus S. McCann
Sep 26, 1928
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Sidney Clarence Crews
Apr 25, 1929
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John I. Brubaker
Mar 31, 1933
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Robert Lee Jester
Nov 18, 1933
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Samuel D. Hicks
Aug 9, 1936
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Patrick Howell Baldwin
Mar 29, 1940
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Wesley Frank Thompson
Sep 18, 1941
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John Milledge
Nov 1, 1946
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Johnnie Young
Mar 8, 1947
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Frampton Pope Wichman, Jr.
Sep 24, 1948
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Leroy Joseph LaFleur, Sr.
Feb 16, 1951
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James H. Brigman
Feb 28, 1951
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John Thomas Burlinson
Mar 8, 1958
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Jerrel E. Ferguson
Nov 7, 1962
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Ronald F. McLeod
May 8, 1969
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Rolland Lane, II
May 23, 1970
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Victor Butler, Jr.
Feb 20, 1971
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Edward F. McDermott
May 18, 1980
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Nathaniel Keith Broom
Sep 2, 1981
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Jose Raimundo DeLeon
Dec 21, 1984
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David Herring
Sep 3, 1986
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Victor Estefan
Mar 31, 1988
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William Don Craig
Jun 21, 1988
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Osvaldo Juan Canalejo, Jr.
Oct 13, 1992
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Carlos A. Santiago
May 30, 1995
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William Harris Williams
Jul 3, 2000
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James Merry Walker
Jan 8, 2008
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Jorge Sanchez
Nov 1, 2016
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Aubrey Travis Johnson, Jr.
Oct 1, 2020
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Paul Schippereit
Jul 4, 2022
Where
Military Service
Victor Estefan served in the U.S. Army (1959–1964) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Victor Estefan’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Miami Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















