Joseph George Portaro

West Virginia State Police — South Charleston, WV

Cardiac Veteran

End of Watch March 14, 2016

Age 50

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

The Vigil Panel 165 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

First Sergeant Joseph Portaro suffered a medical emergency while participating in a physical fitness run near the West Virginia State Police Academy, where he served as the Deputy Director of Training.

He was transported to Thomas Memorial Hospital where he passed away.

Sergeant Portaro was a veteran of the West Virginia Army National Guard and had served with the West Virginia State Police for 17 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-3C618A76
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
First Sergeant Portaro gave the West Virginia State Police 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department West Virginia State Police

Location South Charleston, WV

Platform Identity wvsp.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 14, 2016

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Military Service

Joseph George Portaro served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

First Sergeant Joseph George Portaro is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WV, 7 of 232 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 4%.

At West Virginia State Police, 1 of 42 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 2.4% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia State Police

of 42 officers

2.4% Cardiac

WV — Statewide

of 232 officers

3% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac