Los Angeles Police Department, California
End of Watch Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Add to My HeroesChristopher Alan Cortijo
Police Officer Chris Cortijo succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when his police motorcycle was struck from behind by an impaired driver at the intersection of Lankershim Boulevard at Saticoy Street.
Officer Cortijo was stopped at a red light when the impaired driver struck him from behind at full speed, trapping him between the drunk driver's vehicle and the vehicle that was in front of him. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained in a coma until succumbing to his injuries.
The driver who struck Officer Cortijo was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cocaine. She was sentenced to 15 years to life in October 2017.
Officer Cortijo was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 26 years. He is survived by his son, daughter, grandchild, and brother.
Bio
- Age 51
- Tour 26 years
- Badge 25473
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Vehicular assault
- Incident Date Saturday, April 5, 2014
- Weapon Automobile; Narcotics involved
- Offender Sentenced to 15 years
Most Recent Reflection
View all 192 ReflectionsChris Cortijo was a lot of fun to be around at work. We go back to the early 90’s when we both worked vtd as accident investigators. Young cops full of energy & wanting to write lots of tickets & impound cars. Those were some fun times. Eventually we both made motors & ended up back at vtd after a tour of downtown. I remember working a ticket task force for Sgt John Amott( RIP) & a bunch of us fairly new motors. Chris was one of the group & we were working a speed detail back then using radar. We took turns writing tickets & were all in large group at the same spots nightly. We had code 7 together with John every night & it was a lot of fun. Those were some of the best times I ever had being a motor cop. Eventually the ticket task force was disbanded because of a new captain or something. But I got to work with Chris & his partner Bill on dui watch over the next several years. Those also were some of the best times I ever had. We told jokes all night, made fun of each other relentlessly, & went home with a side ache from laughing all night. I put off writing anything for years because it makes me sad he is no longer here with us. Chris had a work ethic unmatched by anyone I ever knew. He would work till the wee hours & then maybe work a movie job if he could. Sadly Chris passed away the year I retired. I really miss the good old days & wish I had one more night with him & the guys. Rest In Peace my motor brother you are missed by many but never forgotten.
Rich Prindle
December 15, 2020
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