Fallen Officers

Joseph Anthony Cisneros, Jr., January 4, 2021, Age: 43
Police Officer Joseph Cisneros passed away due to complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. Officer Cisneros had served with the San Antonio Police Department for over 20 years, and had been anticipating a promotion to detective.

David Glen Evans, February 25, 2022, Age: 70
In January of 2003, Patrolman David Evans and his partner were attacked during a domestic disturbance call. A male suspect shot Evans, two other SAPD officers, and brutally assaulted a fourth. Patrolman Evans survived the event, returned to work, retired after 30 years, and served 7 years with the North East Independent School District. Patrolman Evans succumbed to complications of the gunshot wounds after many years of faithful service to his community.

Sergio Antillon, October 29, 2010, Age: 25
Officer Antillon succumbed to injuries sustained two weeks earlier when he was struck by a drunk driver. Officer Antillon was 25 years old and had served 2 months on the Department.

Stephanie Brown, March 15, 2011, Age: 27
Officer Brown passed away on March 15, 2011, as a result of injuries she sustained when she was struck head on by a wrong-way suspected DWI driver. Officer Brown was 27 years old and had served over 2 years on the Department.

Edrees Mukhtar, December 29, 2012, Age: 28
Officer Mukhtar passed away as a result of injuries he sustained when his patrol vehicle lost control and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. Officer Mukhtar was 28 years old and had served over a year on the Department.

Robert Deckard, Jr., December 20, 2013, Age: 32
Officer Deckard passed away as a result of injuries sustained while in pursuit of robbery suspects. The suspects fired on Officer Deckard and a bullet pierced Officer Deckard’s windshield striking him in the head. Officer Deckard was 32 years old and had served seven years on the Department.

Benjamin Marconi, November 20, 2016, Age: 50
Detective Benjamin Marconi passed away on November 20, 2016, as a result of injuries sustained when he was shot and killed ambush-style in his patrol car during a traffic stop outside police headquarters. Detective Marconi had served for 27 years on the Department. Age 50

Miguel Moreno, June 30, 2017, Age: 32
Officer Miguel Moreno passed away on June 30, 2017, as a result of injuries sustained when he and Officer J. Cavazos were shot while investigating vehicle burglaries on the 200 block of West Evergreen. Officer Moreno had served for 9 years on the Department. Age 32

Oscar D. Perez, March 24, 2000, Age: 31
Officer Perez was in the process of executing an arrest warrant when he was shot and killed by the suspect. Officer Perez was 31 years old and had served 6 years on the Department.

John A. Riojas, February 3, 2001, Age: 37
Officer Riojas was routine patrol in a NW side apartment complex when he became involved in a foot pursuit of a suspect. A fight ensued, and during the fight the suspect gained control of Officer Riojas's service pistol and shot the officer. Officer Riojas was taken to the hospital, where he died. Officer Riojas was 37 years old and had served 11 years on the Department.

Hector Garza, March 29, 2001, Age: 48
Officer Garza responded to a disturbance call on S. San Eduardo. A male who was present in the home shot Officer Garza, shot and killed a female who lived in the home, and shot and injured a male, who ran across the street to a school. School officials notified the police. Officer Garza died at the scene. Officer Garza was 48 years old and had served 25 years on the Department.

Juan Antonio Morales, December 11, 2001, Age: 33
Officer Morales was on his SAPD motorcycle on IH 10 W when he was side swiped by a vehicle driven by a person suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. Officer Morales was taken to the hospital where he died as a result of his injuries. Officer Morales was 33 years old and had served 11 years on the Department.

John Wheeler, October 14, 2005, Age: 41
Officer John Wheeler was killed when a drunk driver traveling at more than 90mph rear-ended his Patrol car on SW Loop 410 near Culebra Road. The impact caused the Crown Victoria Patrol Car to explode, setting both cars on fire. Both drivers died at the scene. Officer Wheeler was 41 years old and had served 12 years on the Department.

Val Lopez, June 21, 2006, Age: 54
On 2/27/1977, while responding to a call for a man with a gun at a bar, Officer Valentine "Val" Lopez was shot twice. One bullet struck his abdomen and the other his chest. Officer Lopez died as a result of complications from the bullet wound in his abdomen. Officer Lopez was 54 years old and had served 31 years on the Department.

Mario Moreno, September 21, 2007, Age: 37
Detective Mario Moreno was shot and killed while serving a warrant on a suspect wanted for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Detective Moreno was 37 years old and had served 11 years on the Department.

Robert Davis, December 1, 2008, Age: 26
Officer Robert Davis succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when he was struck by a patrol car while clearing flares at the scene of an earlier accident. Officer Davis was 26 years old and had served 1 year on the Department.

Roger Henarie, April 13, 1990, Age: 25
Officer Henarie was enroute to cover another officer who was chasing a suspect when Henarie's patrol car crashed in the 4600 block of Callaghan Rd. He died as a result of the injuries he received. Officer Henarie was 25 years old and had served 1 year on the Department.

Douglas Goeble, April 20, 1991, Age: 26
Officer Goeble was eating dinner at a restaurant on East Commerce when a man and woman involved in a disturbance entered the establishment. Seeing Officer Goeble, the man shot him in the head, then turned and shot the woman. Both Officer Goeble and the woman died from their wounds. Officer Goeble was 26 years old and had served 2 years on the Department.

Rondall Sisco, September 22, 1992, Age: 45
Officer Sisco, a Traffic Division motorcycle officer, was enroute to the Central Substation when an automobile exiting the freeway struck his motorcycle. Officer Sisco died as a result of severe head injuries. He was 45 years old and had served 21 years on the Department.

Fabian Dominguez, January 15, 1995, Age: 29
Officer Dominguez was investigating the burglary of a residence when he was shot and killed by one of the suspects. Officer Dominguez was 29 years of age at the time of his death, and had served 2 1/2 years on the Department.

Michael C. McInnis, August 28, 1995, Age: 25
Officer McInnis was pursuing suspects in a burglary in the NW Loop 410 area when his patrol car went out of control and crashed. Officer McInnis died from the injuries he sustained. He was 25 years old and had served 2 years on the Department.

Gilbert Ramirez, December 24, 1983, Age: 34
Patrolman Ramirez was shot and killed by a shotgun-wielding assailant in the 200 block of Tedder while answering a family disturbance call. Officer Ramirez was 34 years of age at the time of his death, and had served 5 years on the Department.

Edwyn Gorrell, July 5, 1988, Age: 34
Patrolman Gorrell was shot by a suspect he was trying to arrest in the 600 block of Navarro on 22 February, 1988. Gorrell died from his injuries on 5 July, 1988 after over 4 months in a coma. Officer Gorrell was 34 years of age at the time of his death, and had served less than 2 years on the Department.

Antonio Garcia, December 4, 1988, Age: 26
Patrolman Garcia was responding to an officer in trouble call when his patrol car slid into a utility pole in the 6800 block of Culebra. Officer Garcia died as a result of his injuries. He was 26 years old and had served 2 years on the Department.

Patricia Calderon, December 27, 1988, Age: 26
Patrolman Calderon was chasing a theft suspect on foot through the thick brush near Salado Creek at 2 in the morning. Because of poor visibility she fell into the creek and drowned. Officer Calderon was the first female SAPD police officer to be killed in the line of duty. She was 26 years old and had served 5 years on the Department.

Gary Williams, March 27, 1989, Age: 37
Patrolman Williams was responding to a suspicious vehicle call at 800 NE Loop 410. Shortly afterwards he reported over the radio he had been shot. He later died from his wounds. Officer Williams was 37 years old and had served 3 years on the Department.

Guadalupe J. Martinez, September 4, 1970, Age: 23
Patrolman Martinez responded to a neighborhood shooting call at Santiago and Chupaderas Streets. He was shot to death by an elderly man as the officer tried to talk the man into giving up the gun. The assailant was himself shot to death in the exchange of gunfire with Patrolman Martinez and Patrolman Serbantez. Patrolman Martinez was 23 years of age at the time of his death, and had served 9 months on the Department.

Antonio Canales, May 18, 1972, Age:29
Patrolman Canales was shot with a shotgun while attempting to apprehend two men who were suspected of the robbery of a service station on Frio City Road. Patrolman Canales, mortally wounded, shot his own weapon at the fleeing suspects, causing their automobile to swerve off the road and crash. The suspects were apprehended, but Canales died a short time later. He was 29 years old and had served 3 years on the Department.

George Jacobs, January 14, 1973, Age: 32
Patrolman Jacobs surprised a man who was fleeing on foot from a gas station he had just robbed of $50. The assailant fired at point-blank range, mortally wounding Patrolman Jacobs as he stepped from his patrol car. Jacobs died four days later. The robber was later captured. Patrolman Jacobs was 32 years old and had served 4 years on the Department.

Russell Spannagel, June 30, 1973, Age: 24
Patrolman Spannagel was conducting a routine follow-up investigation involving a suspect in an affray, when he was disarmed and fatally shot by a 37-year old man. Cover officers arrived at the scene to find the assailant standing over Officer Spannagel's body, still holding the gun. Patrolman Spannagel was 24 years old and had served 4 years on the Department.

Harry Brackman, June 27, 1974, Age: 28
Patrolman Brackman was responding to an officer in trouble call (officer shot at) on IH 10 Access Road. Before reaching the scene, Patrolman Brackman lost control of his motorcycle and was thrown from the cycle to his death. Patrolman Brackman was 28 years old and had served 6 years on the Department.

James E. Anderson, July 1, 1975, Age: 18
Detective Anderson was responding to a disturbance call on Pike Road when he was fired upon by someone in the house he was investigating. As he was seeking cover, a second shot hit and killed him. Detective Anderson was 39 years old and had served 18 years on the Department.

James Bennett Jr., September 13, 1975, Age: 30
Patrolman Bennett was directing traffic around an accident when he and his partner, Patrolman George Copeland, were struck from behind by another vehicle. Patrolman Bennett was 30 years old and had served 2 years on the Department.

George Copeland III, September 13, 1975, Age: 28
Patrolman Copeland and Patrolman Bennett were directing traffic at the scene of an accident when they were struck from behind and killed by another vehicle. Patrolman Copeland was 28 years old and had served 7 years on the Department.

Eloy Gonzales, August 15, 1977, Age: 27
Patrolman Gonzales was shot and killed in the early morning hours of August 15, 1977, as he stepped from his patrol car to investigate a sidewalk disturbance. Patrolman Gonzales was 27 years old and had served 4 years on the Department.

Bernabe Salazar Jr., November 16, 1978, Age: 31
Patrolman Salazar was shot and killed while attempting to serve a search warrant on a suspected narcotics law violator. Patrolman Salazar was 31 years old and had served 9 years on the Department.

Winston Culpepper, September 11, 1954, Age: 32
Patrolman Culpepper was investigating a fatal traffic accident in the 3300 block of Southwest Military Drive. As he was in the process of measuring skid marks he was struck and killed by a passing vehicle. Patrolman Culpepper was 32 years of age at the time of his death, and had served less than 2 years on the Department.

Richard Cuellar, August 2, 1968, Age: 37
Patrolman Cuellar was returning three youths to the Juvenile Bureau when, upon his arrival at the Police Parking Lot, he met another Patrolman who had another of the juvenile burglary suspects in custody. That 14-year-old juvenile produced a .22-caliber pistol as he escaped from the patrol car and ran into Officer Cuellar, who attempted to block his escape. The assailant pulled the trigger five times, with four successive misfires before a bullet entered Cuellar's heart. Both officers then fired on the assailant, who was fatally wounded. Officer Cuellar died less than an hour later. He was 37 years old and had served 10 years on the Department.

Julius N. Alberson, December 4, 1941, Age: 29
Patrolman Alberson was attempting to arrest five persons charged with disturbing the peace. In the 500 block of East Commerce Street the offenders managed to disarm Alberson, shot him with his own pistol, and fled the scene. Patrolman Alberson, the first black SAPD officer to die in the line of duty, had been on the Department less than ten months.

Frederick Coblentz, November 8, 1942, Age: 26
Coblentz, a Probationary Patrolman at the time of his death, was escorting an ambulance in his patrol car when he was involved in a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Goliad and Water Streets (where Hemisfair Park is now). Before entering the Police Academy in 1942, Coblentz had served SAPD as a civilian Ambulance Driver and City Jail Fingerprint Man. Coblentz was 26 at the time of his death.

Michael Ellis, Jr. May 11, 1944, Age: 27
Detective Ellis was responding to a disturbance call in the 100 block of Nebraska when his police car was fired upon. Ellis' partner was wounded, and Ellis pursued the offender on foot to the 700 block of South Walnut Street, where he was shot by the fugitive. The man then turned the weapon on himself and committed suicide. Detective Ellis had served 5 years on the Department.

Otto Hillock, October 18, 1945, Age: 42
Investigator Hillock, patrolling on a motorcycle, was involved in a collision with a bicyclist in the 2100 block of South Presa. In an effort to avoid the bicyclist, Hillock lost control of his motorcycle and was killed as a result of severe head injuries. Investigator Hillock was 42 years old at the time of his death and had served 18 years on the Department.

Louis Grobe, March 22, 1930, Age: 26
Patrolman Grobe was on his motorcycle when he observed a traffic violation. He was in pursuit of the violator when at Romana Plaza and Soledad Street he collided, head-on, with an on-coming vehicle and was killed. Patrolman Grobe was 26 years of age at the time of his death, and had served 6 months on the Department.

Theodore Boynton, July 29, 1930, Age: 35
Patrolman Boynton, though not on duty, was riding to town on a Culebra Avenue bus when a bandit boarded the bus and drew a gun on the driver. Boynton scuffled with the bandit and both fell out of the bus door. Hitting his head in the fall, Boynton lay stunned. The bandit then shot Boynton and fled. Boynton died the following Tuesday at Santa Rosa Infirmary. He had served 3 years on the Department.

Raleigh Taylor, December 25, 1930, Age: 28
Patrolman Taylor was operating a police motorcycle when he was involved in a major accident sustaining injuries causing his death. Patrolman Taylor had served one year on the Department.

Peter Scrivano May 28, 1931, Age: 38
Patrolman Scrivano was investigating a traffic accident on Produce Row at Pecos Street, when one of the drivers involved in the collision drew a pistol and shot the policeman. Before he died, Scrivano managed to draw his service revolver and wounded his assailant, who died the next week. Patrolman Scrivano had served 3 years on the Department.

Henry Perrow December 11, 1933, Age: 56
Detective Perrow was pursuing a member of the Dillinger Gang, and cornered the fugitive in an alley off the 400 block of East Commerce. During the gun battle that ensued, Perrow was wounded and died. Detective Perrow had served 15 years on the Department.

John Stowe December 3, 1936, Age: 57
Patrolman Stowe was in a bar in the 400 block of East Commerce, when the bartender, recognizing Stowe to be a policeman, informed him that a male patron in the bar was armed. Stowe attempted to disarm and arrest the subject, but was himself shot and killed in the process. Patrolman Stowe had served 26 years on the Department.

Agnal Edwards January 16, 1937, Age: 33
Patrolman Edwards was on his motorcycle when he spotted and pursued a vehicle wanted as having been involved in a holdup. After Edwards stopped the wanted vehicle in the 400 block of Jones Ave, one of the "hi-jacking" suspects fired from the vehicle, hitting and killing Patrolman Edwards. Edwards had served 12 years on the Department.

Earl Kanning, December 23, 1938, Age: 31
Patrolman Kanning suffered severe head injuries when his police motorcycle skidded on wet pavement at South St. Mary's and Perida on December 23, 1938. He died on Christmas Eve, 1938. Patrolman Kanning had served 2 years on the Department.

William Lacey, November 29, 1900, Age: 38
Patrolman Lacey was shot and killed accidentally by the person he was assigned to protect during a labor dispute. The incident took place at the intersection of St. Mary's and Travis. Patrolman Lacey was 38 years old.

Frank East, June 11, 1917, Age: Unknown
Frank East was riding his motorcycle on Commerce Street, on duty, when a bicyclist pulled out in front of him, causing East to swerve and lose control of his motorcycle. East suffered fatal head injuries from the accident.

Joseph Pedraza, October 6, 1924, Age: 45
Patrolman Pedraza was investigating a disturbance on East Commerce Street when he was accidentally shot and killed by a Military Police Officer who was assisting in the investigation. Patrolman Pedraza served 8 1/2 years on the Department and was 45 years old.

Sam Street, September 11, 1927, Age: 60
Chief of Detectives Street was investigating a tip that a notorious bandit, John M. (Pete) McKenzie, alias "The Lone Eagle", was about to stage a holdup of the Piggly Wiggly Food Store at San Pedro and West Laurel. McKenzie shot Chief Street at that location, and Street died the next day. Chief Street was 60 years of age at the time of his death.

Robert White, November 10, 1927, Age: 31
Detective White was investigating a suspicious person report at East Houston and Cherry, when the subject broke and ran into a grocery store. White gave chase, was fired upon, and was killed. Detective White was 31 years old and had served one year and four months on the Department.

Frederick Fieldstrup, May 29, 1857, Age: Unknown
Frederick Fieldstrup is usually acknowledged to have been the first San Antonio police officer to die in the line of duty after the appointment of the first City Marshal of the City of San Antonio. For a more detailed discussion of the controversy surrounding Fieldstrup's death and his official status at the time of his death, please go to The Problem of Frederick Fieldstrup in the SAPD HISTORY PART ONE section.

Van Ness Wells, September 22, 1867, Age : 36
Patrolman Van Ness Wells, while walking back for relief from Arsenal and South Main Street, ran across a drunken man lying on the ground. While attempting to arrest the violator, Wells was stabbed. He died the following day.