Roll of Honor
Pedro Joel Rodríguez-Mateo
Incident
Correctional Officer Pedro Rodríguez-Mateo succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when he was attacked by an inmate at the Ponce Maximum Security Facility.
Officer Rodríguez-Mateo was supervising inmate visitation when he observed a visitor pass an item to an inmate. He had the inmate removed from the visitation area so he could be searched. During the search, the inmate attacked Officer Rodríguez-Mateo and disarmed him of his baton. The inmate, who was serving a 71-year sentence for a triple murder, struck Officer Rodríguez-Mateo several times, causing him to suffer a skull fracture.
Officer Rodríguez-Mateo was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The inmate was subdued and remained in custody and was charged with first-degree murder of a correctional officer. He died in prison in September 2019.
Officer Rodríguez-Mateo had served in law enforcement for 25 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-F9534363- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Correctional Officer Rodríguez-Mateo gave the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Puerto Rico. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Rodríguez-Mateo.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Pedro Joel Rodríguez-Mateo 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 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 9 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Pedro Joel Rodríguez-Mateo's cause is highlighted.
How Pedro Joel Rodríguez-Mateo Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison before trial
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Pedro Joel Rodríguez-Mateo is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Pedro Joel Rodríguez-Mateo was killed by blunt object; baton.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw.
