Roll of Honor
George Reyes Saenz
Incident
Pilot George Saenz was killed in a helicopter accident 55 miles southeast of Marathon, Florida, during a joint narcotics operation involving several federal agencies from the United States and the Bahamas. The Black Hawk helicopter was illuminating one of several boats that were suspected of being involved in a narcotics drop when it experienced a mechanical failure and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Five of the six crew members were able to exit the aircraft and were rescued. Pilot Saenz's body was never located. Six suspects were arrested and pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with Pilot Saenz's death. Pilot Saenz was a military veteran who served with the U.S. Navy from October 1973-October 1977 and also in the U.S. Army Reserve before joining the Metro-Dade Police Department and later the U.S. Customs Service.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-366B1040- 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.
Pilot Saenz gave the United States Department of the Treasury 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
George Reyes Saenz served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Pilot George Reyes Saenz 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 DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 44 of 94 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 46.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Reyes Saenz's cause is highlighted.
How George Reyes Saenz Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. George Reyes Saenz is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
