Ricardo Perez-Ortiz
Agency patch
Sergeant

Ricardo Perez-Ortiz

Puerto Rico Police Department — San Juan, 127
Felonious
End of Watch August 24, 2020
Age 52
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
The Vigil Panel 172 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Ricardo Perez-Ortiz succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on April 30th, 2020, when he was confronted by armed subjects while en route to work at 11:50 pm.

He was in uniform and driving his personal vehicle on Avenue Jesús T. Piñero at the interchange with Highway 18 when he was surrounded by a group of people driving motorcycles and off-road vehicles who were violating COVID-19 curfew restrictions. The other drivers surrounded his vehicle, forcing him to come to a stop. At least one of the subjects in the group opened fire on him, striking him three times before fleeing.

Sergeant Perez-Ortiz was transported to Rio Piedras Medical Center where he remained in critical condition. He was able to assist homicide investigators with information before succumbing to his wounds on August 24th, 2020.

Sergeant Perez-Ortiz had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 26 years and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Survivors

He is survived by his brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-9A271817
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

26 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Perez-Ortiz gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Perez-Ortiz.

— 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 August 24, 2020
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .40 caliber
Offender At large

Sergeant Ricardo Perez-Ortiz 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. Ricardo Perez-Ortiz'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 Ricardo Perez-Ortiz Compares

Age at End of Watch
52
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

At large

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ricardo Perez-Ortiz is highlighted in Aug.

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. Ricardo Perez-Ortiz was killed by handgun; .40 caliber.

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

Incident Location