Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Luis Meléndez-Maldonado was shot and killed as he and other agents were conducting a narcotics trafficking investigation at the Residencial Pedro J. Palou in Humacao, Puerto Rico, at approximately 2:00 pm.
As the officers arrived at the scene they encountered a subject walking in the complex with a rifle. The man opened fire on the officers, killing Sergeant Meléndez-Maldonado. As the man opened fire, two other subjects emerged from a nearby minivan and fired at other officers. The officers returned fire and wounded both men.
All three subjects were taken into custody. It is believed that the group had gone to the public housing complex to murder a rival drug dealer.
On January 16th, 2019, the subjects were convicted of Sergeant Meléndez-Maldonado's murder.
Sergeant Meléndez-Maldonado had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 30 years and was assigned to the Humacao Drug Division.
Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice will always be remembered by your law enforcement brethren.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) October 12th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PR-4C680785- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
30 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Meléndez-Maldonado gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 30 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, Sergeant Meléndez-Maldonado.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Luis A. Meléndez-Maldonado 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. Luis A. Meléndez-Maldonado's cause is highlighted.
How Luis A. Meléndez-Maldonado Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Luis A. Meléndez-Maldonado is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Luis A. Meléndez-Maldonado was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
363 officers from Puerto Rico Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
