Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant José García-Vázquez died after contracting COVID-19 while on duty during an outbreak in the district police station in Yauco, Puerto Rico.
Sergeant García-Vázquez had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 31 years and was assigned to Yauco District.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Sergeant José Antonio García-Vázquez died on May 15, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 51.
He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 7 at Puerto Rico Police Department.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, who serves as a lieutenant with the agency.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-19424104- 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
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Sergeant García-Vázquez gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 31 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant García-Vázquez.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant José Antonio García-Vázquez is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In 127, 7 of 388 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 1.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.3 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Puerto Rico Police Department, 7 of 364 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 1.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. José Antonio García-Vázquez's cause is highlighted.
How José Antonio García-Vázquez Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. José Antonio García-Vázquez is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
363 officers from Puerto Rico Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
