Police Officer II Christopher Alan Cortijo

Chris 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