Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Francis Ortega was shot and killed during a traffic stop in front of the Pine Lake Post Office in the 4500 block of Rockbridge Road SW.
Officer Ortega and his partner approached the vehicle, obtained paperwork from the driver, and then returned to their patrol car. As they sat in the patrol car, they were approached by the suspect. When the officers exited their vehicle, a struggle ensued.
The suspect was able to put Officer Ortega in a headlock and then shoot him in the head. Officer Ortega's partner and the suspect exchanged gunfire as the man fled into the post office.
The suspect, who was wanted for violating his supervised release from prison, committed suicide inside the post office as the DeKalb County SWAT Team attempted to gain entry.
Officer Ortega had served as a part-time officer for the Pine Lake Police Department for two years, and was a full-time officer with the Georgia Department of Human Resources Police.
Survivors
He is survived by his son, daughter, parents, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-24D8CF27- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Ortega gave the Pine Lake Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pine Lake community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ortega.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Francis Manuel Ortega 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Francis Manuel Ortega's cause is highlighted.
How Francis Manuel Ortega Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Francis Manuel Ortega is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Francis Manuel Ortega was killed by gun; unknown type.