Roll of Honor
Incident
Park Ranger Paul Pytel drowned in Salado Creek while chasing a gang-related shooting suspect through Martin Luther King Park. He and another park ranger heard the shooting and chased two suspects into the park while calling for backup. A San Antonio police officer arrived on the scene and was taking the two suspects into custody on one side of the creek when Ranger Pytel either jumped or fell into the creek on the other side. Six other officers jumped into the creek in an attempt to save him when he failed to resurface. The two subjects were charged in connection with Park Ranger Pytel's death under the state's Calderon Law, which was enacted following the death of Patrolman Patricia Calderon, who drowned in the same creek while chasing a suspect on December 27th, 1988. Ranger Pytel had served with the San Antonio Park Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, sister, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-E8338364- 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.
Park Ranger Pytel gave the San Antonio Park Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Ranger Pytel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Park Ranger Paul Matthew Pytel is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At San Antonio Park Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Matthew Pytel's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Matthew Pytel Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Matthew Pytel is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from San Antonio Park Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
