Salvador Cortes-Colon
Agency patch
Policeman

Salvador Cortes-Colon

Puerto Rico Police Department — San Juan, 127
Felonious
End of Watch November 7, 1975
Age 23
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 6 mo
Badge 2297
The Vigil Panel 116 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Salvador Cortes-Colon was shot and killed as he and two other officers attempted to arrest three fugitives in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The suspects opened fire on the officers, killing Officer Cortes-Colon. Two of the suspects were shot and killed during the ensuing standoff. The third suspect was taken into custody. Policeman Cortes-Colon had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 3-1/2 years and was assigned to District 107.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, parents, and sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-QYCC-9EH3-1 earlier record number BO-US-PR-66C198F1
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Salvador. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policeman Cortes-Colon gave the Puerto Rico Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Juan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Cortes-Colon.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location San Juan, 127
Platform Identity prpd.pr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 7, 1975
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 6 mo
Age 23
Badge Number 2297
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Salvador is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1975, 163 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Salvador was 23. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Salvador had served 3.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Puerto Rico Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Salvador among them.

Across the years

Policeman Salvador Cortes-Colon

Puerto Rico Police Department · End of Watch November 7, 1975

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E

↑