Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández
Agency patch
First Lieutenant

Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández

Puerto Rico Police Department — San Juan, 127
Illness
End of Watch November 4, 2020
Age 54
Tour of Duty 33 yrs
The Vigil Panel 173 ›
Gender Male

Incident

First Lieutenant Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández died as the result of complications after contracting COVID-19 while on duty.

Lieutenant Rodríguez-Hernández had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for over 33 years and was the commander of the Río Grande District.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

First Lieutenant Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández died on November 4, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 54.

He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 7 at Puerto Rico Police Department.

Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.

Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.

Survivors

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

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-B4E32830
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

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
First Lieutenant Rodríguez-Hernández gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 33 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, First Lieutenant Rodríguez-Hernández.

— 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 November 4, 2020
Tour of Duty 33 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

First Lieutenant Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In 127, 7 of 388 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 1.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.3 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Puerto Rico Police Department, 7 of 364 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 1.9% of this agency's fallen.

Puerto Rico Police Department
7
of 364 officers
1.9% Illness
127 — Statewide
7
of 388 officers
1.8% Illness
Nationwide
2,974
of 32,508 officers
9.1% Illness

National Cause Distribution

How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández'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 Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Illness: 47.8 years
Years of Service
33
This officer
Avg for Illness: 18.9 years

When Illness Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
294
Feb
198
Mar
185
Apr
226
May
201
Jun
181
Jul
217
Aug
281
Sep
291
Oct
376
Nov
239
Dec
285

Incident Location