Ruben Kuilan-Torres
Agency patch
Agent

Ruben Kuilan-Torres

Puerto Rico Police Department — San Juan, 127
Felonious
End of Watch September 7, 2002
Age 50
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
The Vigil Panel 150 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Agent Ruben Kuilan-Torres was shot and killed during a robbery attempt as he drove home following his shift.

He was still in uniform when he stopped at a gas station on PR-2, just outside of Vega Alta. Two suspects approached him to rob him and then opened fire when they noticed his uniform. They stole his service weapon before fleeing.

The subjects were apprehended three days later and charged with murder.

Agent Torres had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 14 years.

In 2001 he received the department's Medal of Valor award for facing multiple robbery suspects during a shootout.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-0D701BED
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Agent Kuilan-Torres gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Agent Kuilan-Torres.

— 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 September 7, 2002
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Agent Ruben Kuilan-Torres 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 97,772 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 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ruben Kuilan-Torres's cause is highlighted.

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

How Ruben Kuilan-Torres Compares

Age at Death
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
14
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ruben Kuilan-Torres is highlighted in Sep.

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. Ruben Kuilan-Torres was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location