Gabriel Vargas-Hernandez

Puerto Rico Police Department — San Juan, 127

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 17, 1965

Age 42

Badge 2046

The Vigil Panel 100 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 363

Incident

Policeman Gabriel Vargas-Hernandez was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man in Rio Piedras at 3:00 p.m. Policeman Vargas-Hernandez was walking near a corner store inside the San Fernando public housing complex when he observed a man concealing a .45 pistol inside his waist and not having a license for it. As he attempted to arrest the individual, the suspect's godparent came to his aid and interfered with the arrest, starting a struggle in which Policeman Vargas-Hernandez dropped his service revolver. The suspect, struggling with Policeman Vargas-Hernandez, grabbed his revolver and shot him, killing him instantly. Both suspects were caught days later. The man holding the .45 pistol was convicted of possession of an illegal weapon without a license and sentenced to 2 years. The shooter was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder and sentenced to 30 years.

Survivors

Policeman Vargas-Hernandez was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PR-2261E36B
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.
Policeman Vargas-Hernandez served with the Puerto Rico Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Vargas-Hernandez.

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

Agency

Department Puerto Rico Police Department

Type Police Department

Location San Juan, 127

Platform Identity prpd.pr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 17, 1965

Age 42

Badge Number 2046

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Gabriel Vargas-Hernandez served in the U.S. Army (1944â1945) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Policeman Gabriel Vargas-Hernandez 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.

Puerto Rico Police Department

279

of 364 officers

76.6% Felonious

127 — Statewide

294

of 388 officers

75.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious