Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
End of Watch: Tuesday, May 18, 1982
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 11 years, 3 months
Badge Number: 1014
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 18, 1982
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Life sentence
Officer Wilfredo Cotto-Aponte was shot and killed while moving illegal residents off of private land in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
At about 10:30 am, police units arrived at the Community Villa Sin Miedo in Rio Grande with a court order to remove a group of people who lived illegally on the private land. After an hour of eviction notices by the police, a police tactical unit entered the community to begin the forced eviction. When Officer Cotto-Aponte walk into a dorm, a man shot him in the throat. Officer Cotto-Aponte was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The assailant was arrested at the scene, and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
Officer Cotto-Aponte worked with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 11 years, and was assigned to the Metropolitan Tactical Operations Unit. He is survived by his wife and two sons; both who later joined the Puerto Rico Police Department.