IN THE LINE OF DUTY
We shall never forget the many men and women who have given their lives in the line of duty throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties.
During the evening of March 23, 1930, Senior Patrol Inspector James E. Renshaw and Patrol Inspector Harry E. Vincent were inspecting northbound traffic about one mile north of Oceanside, California. The traffic check operation was being conducted on a temporary roadway where new construction was underway. At 10:00 p.m., an automobile traveling in a southerly direction missed the detour and struck down Officers Renshaw and Vincent. Both officers were knocked unconscious. A bystander, Mr. William Trotter, took charge of the situation. Mr Trotter had the officers transported to a clinic in Oceanside.
Inspector Strobridge succumbed to injuries received five days earlier in an automobile accident while returning from a court date in Los Angeles, California. He and three other inspectors were riding together in a government vehicle when the accident occurred.
Agent Rector was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow agent who was discussing gun limitations with a third agent at the Chula Vista Sector Headquarters in California. The two agents had unloaded the .357 caliber handgun while examining it, reloaded it, and placed it in a drawer as they began to discuss a different weapon. The discussion returned to the .357 and one of the agents removed it from the drawer, not realizing it had been reloaded. When he pulled the trigger the gun discharged and round passed through the wall and struck Agent Rector in the head as he sat at his desk. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to the wound several hours later.
Inspector Jennings was struck and killed by an automobile while conducting a traffic checkpoint near Oceanside, California. A vehicle which had stopped at a stop sign was rear-ended by another speeding vehicle. The stopped vehicle was then catapulted into Inspector Jennings, causing fatal injuries
Inspector Newton and Inspector George Azrak were shot and killed after being abducted from a traffic checkpoint on Highway 19 near Oak Grove, California. The ensuing investigation determined that the two had stopped a vehicle with over 800 pounds of marijuana. While searching the vehicle they were overpowered and taken to a remote cabin in a deserted mountainous area. The two had been handcuffed together and were shot and killed as they lay on the ground.
Inspector Newton and Inspector George Azrak were shot and killed after being abducted from a traffic checkpoint on Highway 19 near Oak Grove, California. The ensuing investigation determined that the two had stopped a vehicle with over 800 pounds of marijuana. While searching the vehicle they were overpowered and taken to a remote cabin in a deserted mountainous area. The two had been handcuffed together and were shot and killed as they lay on the ground.
Inspector Burns suffered a fatal heart attack following a search in a Calexico, California, river bottom.
Inspector Anderson was accidentally shot and killed when his rifle discharged while on patrol near San Ysidro, California.
Border Patrol Agent Glenn A. Phillips of the Chula Vista Station, Chula Vista Sector, was killed at 9:40 p.m. on July 8, 1974, in a jeep accident. He was traveling alone on the Tijuana Street Extension, a dirt road located near the international boundary approximately one mile west of the Port of Entry at San Ysidro. Agent Phillips was responding to a call for assistance from Patrol Agent Petraglia who had spotted a group of aliens entering the United States illegally. The San Diego Police Department’s report indicates that Agent Phillips was traveling at approximately 20 miles per hour, probably without lights, when his jeep crashed into the front end of a parked flatbed trailer. The jeep was badly damaged and the front of the trailer extended well into the interior and to the rear of the jeep. The bed of the trailer struck the right side of Agent Phillips’ face, apparently killing him instantly.
Pilot Haynie was killed in an airplane accident near Yuma, Arizona, while on duty.
Agent McCravey succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile accident three days earlier while chasing a suspected of transporting smuggled aliens. The vehicle he was chasing caused dust to be kicked up, possibly blocking Agent McCravey’s visibility. His patrol car overturned and became submerged in the All American Canal near Calexico, California.
At approximately 11:45 p.m., Agent Santiago was working in a canyon near Lower Otay Reservoir when he and other agents saw a group of about 20 illegal aliens. The agents identified themselves as Border Patrol and ordered the aliens to stop. The group scattered and the agents followed. Agent Santiago gave chase along the rim of the canyon, taking a narrow trail that leads to the edge of a cliff. He lost his footing on loose rock and slippery grass and fell approximately 120 feet to his death. Agent Santiago was one week short of taking his ten month examination.
Agent Starch was killed after he fell into a ravine while tracking suspected illegal aliens.
Agent de la Ossa and Agent Thomas J. Williams were killed when their vehicle was involved in a head on collision on a rain slicked road. The two agents were returning to San Diego, where they were stationed, from a federal training center in Artesia, New Mexico, when the accident occurred. The accident took place on Highway 82 in New Mexico. The driver of the other vehicle was also killed.
Agent de la Ossa and Agent Thomas J. Williams were killed when their vehicle was involved in a head on collision on a rain slicked road. The two agents were returning to San Diego, where they were stationed, from a federal training center in Artesia, New Mexico, when the accident occurred. The accident took place on Highway 82 in New Mexico. The driver of the other vehicle was also killed.
Border Patrol Agent Sullivan was killed when the Ford Bronco he was driving overturned and tumbled down an 1,100 foot cliff in San Diego County, California.
Agent Roberto Duran was killed when his patrol vehicle overturned while he was on patrol on Federal Route 15 in Arizona. Agent Duran was assigned to the Chula Vista Border Patrol Station in San Diego, California, and had been temporarily assigned to the Casa Grande Station in Tucson, Arizona.
Agent Catherine Hill was killed in an automobile accident when her Jeep Wrangler patrol vehicle went over an embankment and rolled over several times. Hill was ejected from the vehicle and was found by a maintenance worker. The incident occurred on East Spooner’s Mesa in Border Field State Park in San Diego County, California.
Border Patrol Agent Eric Cabral suffered a fatal heart attack as the result of heat exposure when he and another agent were tracking a group of illegal aliens north of I-8 near Jacumba, California.
He had been separated from his partner when a third agent found him. Agents initiated CPR and emergency medical services were rendered. Agent Cabral was flown to a hospital in San Diego, where he was pronounced dead.
Agent Cabral had served with the Border Patrol for less than 2 years. He is survived by his parents and sisters.
Border Patrol Agent Killed
The 28-year-old U.S. Border Patrol agent died early Sunday, March 30, 2008 after a single-vehicle crash in rural East County.
The Medical Examiner’s Office identified the agent as Jarod Dittman. The accident happened just before 1 a.m. on Otay Lakes Road just west of state Route 94.
The agent had started his shift at midnight and was driving a Jeep Wrangler to his patrol area near Jamul, said Richard Smith, a supervising agent for the U.S. Border Patrol. Smith said the agency does not yet know the reason for the crash and released few details Sunday morning. A second agent, also on his way to patrol the same region, came upon the wreck and called emergency crews, Smith said.
The injured agent was taken to a hospital where he died at 2 a.m.
Smith said the agent is married, with a child. Originally from Pennsylvania, the agent lived in San Diego. He had been working as a border patrol agent for more than a year.
The cause of the crash is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol.
Agent Robert Rosas
End of Watch: July 23, 2009
Robert Rosas served his country honorably as a United States Border Patrol Agent. He was a proud husband and father, a loyal partner and friend, a great and brave man.
Robert was born on June 19, 1979, in El Centro California, to his parents Sylvia and Robert Sr. Robert was raised in El Centro where he attended Central Union High School and graduated in 1997. He excelled on the high school football team under the tutelage Coach Dubbe. He also met his loving wife Rosie while attending Central Union.
Robert worked for Centinela State Prison as a correctional officer for six years, again under the guidance of his old “Coach”, now Lieutenant Dubbe. Robert had an overwhelming sense of responsibility to protect those around him, as he also served as a Reserve El Centro Police Officer for two years.
Robert entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on May 22, 2006 as a member of the 621st academy session. He was assigned to the Campo, California Border Patrol Station in San Diego Sector.
From the first day at the academy he would always try to convince his classmates, also assigned to Campo Station, to think about “The Valley” and everything they heard about the heat because it was not all true. This is one reason why he was known as the “Mayor of El Centro.” Robert was also a very good softball player. On weekends when the class was supposed to be studying, he would arrange softball games against other classes. One thing was certain, when he was not seen around the academy grounds, he could always be found inside his room talking to his then fiancée Rosie.
Robert married Rosie on April 7, 2007, and had two lovely children, Robert Matthew now age two and Kayla Allysa, 11-months old. His greatest joy was spending time with his wife and kids, which continue to reside in El Centro.
Robert is survived by his mother Sylvia, brother Mark Anthony, his sisters Sylvia and Arlene, and stepfather Mark Wymer.
Agent Daniel Salazar
End of Watch: May 13, 2022
Agent Salazar was on patrol in the back country of the county when his vehicle slid off the trail and
rolled over killing him at the scene.
Inspector Gardner was killed in a motorcycle accident while returning to Elsinore, California, from San Diego, California, for a temporary duty assignment. He was riding a government motorcycle which had taken to San Diego to get repaired. He struck the rear of a stalled vehicle which was parked in a travel lane and had no lights on.