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Sergeant Sonny Perez died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Sergeant Perez had served with the El Paso Police Department for 29 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Sergeant Santos Perez died on December 2, 2022 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 52.
He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 4 at El Paso Police Department.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son, his brother, and grandson.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtngch4vh61dn39777evg- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Santos. Claim this record.
Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Santos is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Sergeant Perez gave the El Paso Police Department 29 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Perez.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
El Paso Police Department has lost 34 officers; 4 of them lost to illness.
Santos is one of 204 officers lost to illness in TX, 8.4% of the 2,423 remembered there.
Santos is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Santos is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2022, 19 officers in TX were lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 99.
In 2022, 135 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 4th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2022, 140 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 4th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Santos was 52. Of the 201 lost to illness in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 59; the middle age was 53. Santos had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
Santos was 52. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Santos had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Santos was 52. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Santos had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
December holds 11.3% of these deaths in TX; September holds the most, 16.7%. Fridays: 12.7%.
December holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
December holds 9.6% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 11.8% of all 34 deaths at El Paso Police Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.4% of all 2,423 deaths in TX, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
El Paso Police Department has 34 officers remembered here, Santos among them.
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Thomas P. Moad Jul 11, 1883
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Newton Stewart
Feb 17, 1900
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William Paschall
Dec 4, 1914
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Gus Chitwood
Feb 13, 1915
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Sidney J. Benson
Jun 28, 1917
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Octaviano Perea
Feb 1, 1918
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George Franklin Drake
Sep 22, 1918
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Harry Phoenix
Jun 13, 1921
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Frank Burns
Apr 12, 1923
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Enrique Rivera Nov 25, 1923
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John Jack Coleman
Jul 14, 1924
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Lynn Reed McClintock
Oct 3, 1926
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Schuyler C. Houston
Oct 4, 1927
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Ralph O. Marmolejo
Mar 17, 1951
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Warren Mitchell
May 16, 1953
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Guillermo Sanchez
Dec 14, 1957
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Arthur Joe Lavender, Jr.
Dec 16, 1966
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Roger A. Hamilton
Jun 21, 1970
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Guy Ray Myers, Jr.
Jul 24, 1970
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David Bannister
Jun 3, 1974
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Wayne V. Carreon
Jun 10, 1981
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Charles Douglas Heinrich
Aug 29, 1985
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Norman Michael Montion
Oct 16, 1989
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Ernesto Serna
Nov 12, 1991
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Angel Andrew Barcena
Sep 25, 2004
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Karl Raymond McDonough
Oct 13, 2010
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Jonathan Keith Molina
Oct 5, 2012
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Angel David Garcia
Dec 16, 2012
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Adrian Arellano
Mar 18, 2015
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David Ortiz
Mar 14, 2016
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Camerino Santiago
Jan 11, 2021
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Jonathan Andre Terrazas
Sep 1, 2021
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Gerardo Morales
Jan 7, 2022
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Santos Perez
Dec 2, 2022
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-WT
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from El Paso Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
