Roll of Honor

Prev Next

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 137 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military 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

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-B60562B4
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 Ernesto. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Ernesto is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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 →

Patrolman Ernesto Serna 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At El Paso Police Department, 23 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.

El Paso Police Department

of 34 officers

67.6% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,461

of 2,422 officers

60.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious