Luis B. Vega-Cotto
Agency patch
Policeman

Luis B. Vega-Cotto

Puerto Rico Police Department — San Juan, 127
Felonious
End of Watch April 30, 1989
Age 38
The Vigil Panel 134 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Vega-Cotto was shot and killed while making an arrest.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-DAEB22F7
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.
Policeman Vega-Cotto 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 Vega-Cotto.

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

Agency

Location San Juan, 127
Platform Identity prpd.pr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 30, 1989
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Not available

Policeman Luis B. Vega-Cotto 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 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 21.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Luis B. Vega-Cotto's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Luis B. Vega-Cotto Compares

Age at End of Watch
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Luis B. Vega-Cotto is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Luis B. Vega-Cotto was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518