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Patrolman

Ernesto Serna

El Paso Police Department — El Paso, TX

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch November 12, 1991

Age 31

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Badge 1337

The Vigil Panel 305 · Column 2 · Line 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 33

Incident

Patrolman Ernesto Serna was shot and killed after confronting a shoplifter. Patrolman Serna was working an extra-duty assignment as security at the Wal-Mart Store. Patrolman Serna saw a male take a coat from the rack and walk out of the store without paying for it. He followed the shoplifter out of the store and stopped him in the parking lot. When Patrolman Serna confronted the suspect, he drew a handgun out from under his coat and opened fire, striking him once in the face. Patrolman Serna was able to return fire, and shot the suspect three times, killing him. Patrolman Serna was rushed to Thomason Hospital where he died shortly after 9 p.m. Patrolman Serna had served with the agency for two years where he was assigned to the Central Substation. He had just returned from Saudi Arabia where he served with the United States Army Reserve in Operation Desert Storm. He is survived by his wife and three sons. All of his sons became officers with the El Paso Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Serna gave the El Paso Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department El Paso Police Department

Type Other

Location El Paso, El Paso County, TX

Platform Identity eppd.elpaso.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 12, 1991

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Age 31

Badge Number 1337

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Ernesto Serna served in the U.S. Army (1978â1981) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Ernesto is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1991, 85 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 76th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Ernesto was 31. 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. Ernesto had served 2.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded