Roll of Honor
Incident
Commander Frank Román, Lieutenant Luz Soto, and Agent Rosario Hernández de Hoyos were shot inside the Puerto Rico Police Department's Ponce regional headquarters, near the intersection of PR-1 and PR-52, by a disgruntled police officer.
The subject had entered the headquarters building with two guns and a knife. He proceeded to the sixth floor, where he took all three officers hostage. He told Lieutenant Soto to call the press officer, but the call did not go through. The subject then opened fire on the officers, fatally wounding them, before exchanging shots with another officer.
The subject was taken into custody and was transported to a local hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. He was sentenced to serve 203 years and six months.
Commander Román had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 28 years. He was recognized as Commander of the Year in 2014.
Survivors
Commander Román is survived by three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-3A012F4A- 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
28 years. You could have gone home.
Commander Román-Rodríguez gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Commander Román-Rodríguez.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Commander Frank Román-Rodríguez 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 127, 294 of 388 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75.8% of this state's fallen. That is 21.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Puerto Rico Police Department, 279 of 364 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Román-Rodríguez's cause is highlighted.
How Frank Román-Rodríguez Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 203 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Román-Rodríguez is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Román-Rodríguez was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
363 officers from Puerto Rico Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
