Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

George Valentino Cortez, Jr.

Phoenix Police Dept. — Phoenix, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch July 27, 2007

Age 23

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 156 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 46

Incident

Officer George Cortez was shot and killed after responding to a check-cashing store to investigate reports of a forgery-in-progress.

At approximately 5:30 pm, Officer Cortez responded to a call that a man and woman were passing forged checks at a check-cashing business on 83rd Avenue, near Encanto Boulevard. Officer Cortez entered the business and was placing the male suspect in handcuffs when the man drew a stolen Glock .40 and shot Officer Cortez twice in the head and once in the shoulder.

Officer Cortez was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital where he died from his injuries.

The suspects fled the scene but were apprehended the next day. They were charged with capital first-degree murder, burglary and forgery. The male subject was convicted of murder and was sentenced to death on October 19, 2010.

Officer Cortez had served with the Phoenix Police Department for two years and as a detention officer with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department for two years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two sons, and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-D6F77CF7
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Cortez gave the Phoenix Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cortez.

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

Agency

Department Phoenix Police Dept.

Location Phoenix, AZ

Platform Identity phoepd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 2007

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .40 caliber

Offender Sentenced to death

Police Officer George Valentino Cortez, Jr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Phoenix Police Dept., 28 of 47 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.6% of this agency's fallen.

Phoenix Police Dept.

of 47 officers

59.6% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious