David Ortiz

El Paso Police Dept. — El Paso, TX

Felonious

End of Watch March 14, 2016

Age 45

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 165 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 33

Incident

Patrolman David Ortiz succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when his police motorcycle was intentionally struck from behind at the intersection of Lee Trevino Drive and Vista Del Sol Drive.

The impact pushed his motorcycle into the vehicle in front of him, and he became trapped underneath one of the vehicles involved in the crash. He was able to be pulled from underneath the vehicle and was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the vehicle who struck him was under the influence of heroin and Xanax. Witnesses testified that the man intentionally switched lanes at a high rate of speed before striking Patrolman Ortiz. The subject, a known gang member, fled the scene on foot but was later apprehended. In January 2017 he plead guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Patrolman Ortiz had served with the El Paso Police Department for nine years and was assigned to the Pebble Hills Region Command.

Survivors

Patrolman Ortiz is survived by his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-2E83BBCE
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.
Patrolman Ortiz gave the El Paso Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Ortiz.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department El Paso Police Dept.

Location El Paso, TX

Platform Identity eppd.elpaso.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 14, 2016

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile; Narcotics involved

Offender Sentenced to 40 years

Patrolman David Ortiz 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At El Paso Police Dept., 23 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.

El Paso Police Dept.

of 34 officers

67.6% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious