Roll of Honor
Christopher Alan Cortijo
Incident
Police Officer Chris Cortijo succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when his police motorcycle was struck from behind by an impaired driver at the intersection of Lankershim Boulevard at Saticoy Street.
Officer Cortijo was stopped at a red light when the impaired driver struck him from behind at full speed, trapping him between the drunk driver's vehicle and the vehicle that was in front of him. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained in a coma until succumbing to his injuries.
The driver who struck Officer Cortijo was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cocaine. She was sentenced to 15 years to life in October 2017.
Officer Cortijo was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 26 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his son, daughter, grandchild, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-39629304- 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 II Cortijo gave the Los Angeles Police Department 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles 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
Christopher Alan Cortijo served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer II Christopher Alan Cortijo 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Los Angeles Police Department, 115 of 240 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Christopher Alan Cortijo's cause is highlighted.
How Christopher Alan Cortijo Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 15 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Christopher Alan Cortijo is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Christopher Alan Cortijo was killed by automobile; narcotics involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
239 officers from Los Angeles Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
