Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua
Agency patch
Policeman

Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua

Puerto Rico Police Department — San Juan, 127
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch December 12, 1996
Age 36
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge 5640
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Miguel Santiago-Garayua was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a drunk driver as he transported a prisoner to jail. He was driving on PR-1, in Juana Diaz, when the crash occurred. Policeman Santiago-Garayua was a Puerto Rico National Guard veteran and had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, children, and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-3E68F113
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 Miguel. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Miguel 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.
Policeman Santiago-Garayua gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan 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

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1996
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 5640
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Policeman Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua 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 97,759 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
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
13
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua was killed by automobile.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Miguel Angel Santiago-Garayua’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.