Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Ernesto Caballero-Vega was shot and killed while pursuing two fugitives while off-duty in San Juan, PR. Around 10:30am, Officer Caballero-Vega noticed two men when they carjacked an elder person and followed in pursuit while in plain clothing. When the carjackers reached Los Cappa Road in the Cupey neighborhood their vehicle crashed and a shootout broke out resulting in the shooting of the officer. Both suspects had escaped from a prison ambulance days before and both were apprehended hours after the shooting. They were charged locally with weapons act, kidnapping and escape, and federally with carjacking under the felony murder rule, and were both sentenced to life in prison. Officer Ernesto Caballero-Vega had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for four years and was named 1996 Police Officer of the Year. He was assigned to the San Juan Anti-Crime Unit (Saturacion).
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-7D596C9E- Stewardship
- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Pilot Officer Caballero-Vega gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Pilot Officer Caballero-Vega.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Pilot Officer Ernesto Caballero-Vega is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In 127, 294 of 388 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75.8% of this state's fallen. That is 75.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Puerto Rico Police Department, 279 of 364 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernesto Caballero-Vega's cause is highlighted.
How Ernesto Caballero-Vega Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernesto Caballero-Vega is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernesto Caballero-Vega was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
363 officers from Puerto Rico Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
