Incident
Police Officer Daryl Raetz was struck and killed by an SUV while making an arrest for DUI near the intersection of 51st Avenue and Cambridge Drive.
At approximately 3:30 am Officer Raetz, along with several other officers, was processing a DUI suspect on the side of road when a passing SUV struck Officer Raetz. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital where he died.
The driver of the SUV fled the scene. He was arrested the following day after another officer spotted his vehicle and recognized it as matching the description of the vehicle that struck Officer Raetz. The subject is an illegal alien and was charged with drug possession. He pleaded no contest to charges of negligent homicide and hit-and-run with death or injury and was sentenced to serve eight years and an additional seven years of probation.
Officer Raetz was a veteran of the Iraq war and had served with the Phoenix Police Department for six years.
At approximately 3:30 am Officer Raetz, along with several other officers, was processing a DUI suspect on the side of road when a passing SUV struck Officer Raetz. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital where he died.
Officer Raetz was a veteran of the Iraq war and had served with the Phoenix Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, child, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-23F60434- 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 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.
Police Officer Raetz gave the Phoenix Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Daryl Michael Raetz served in the Navy (2002â2007) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Daryl Michael Raetz is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AZ, 95 of 330 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.8% of this state's fallen. That is 2.2 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Phoenix Police Dept., 14 of 47 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daryl Michael Raetz's cause is highlighted.
How Daryl Michael Raetz Compares
Offender Outcome
In custody
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Daryl Michael Raetz is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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