McAllen Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Tuesday, May 19, 1981
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 3 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 19, 1981
Weapon Used: Handgun; Derringer
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer Rosalin Suarez was shot and killed after he responded to a silent alarm at a business at 3 am.
Another officer reported seeing a burglar leave the opposite end of the building, and then Officer Suarez radioed that he was in a foot pursuit. After hearing a gunshot, the other office located Officer Suarez's body in the common area of an apartment complex several blocks away.
The subject was later arrested in possession of Officer Suarez's duty weapon, which he stole during the assault. The man had previously stolen the pistol used to shoot Officer Suarez twice from the same location. It had previously been recovered and was returned before the man stole it again. The man, 29, was originally sentenced to death, but in 1987 the sentence was reduced to life upon appeal.
Officer Suarez was a U.S. Army veteran who had served with the McAllen Police Department for three months and had previously served with the Pharr Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and brother, who later served with the McAllen Police Department.