El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch Sunday, March 24, 2019
Add to My HeroesPeter John Herrera
Deputy Sheriff Peter Herrera succumbed to wounds sustained when he was shot after pulling over a vehicle in San Elizario at 1:50 am.
He had stopped the vehicle for a registration violation near the corner of Chicken Ranch Road and Socorro Road. He approached the car and asked the driver to step out. As the driver exited the vehicle he fired 15 rounds, striking Deputy Herrera multiple times. Deputy Herrara did not have an opportunity to draw his own weapon.
The driver and the passenger then fled the scene in the vehicle, but it stalled out several blocks away. The two then fled on foot but were located and apprehended a short time later by responding deputies. The driver was charged with capital murder and the passenger was also charged with other crimes in connection with Deputy Herrara's murder.
A civilian and members of the U.S. Border Patrol and El Paso County Sheriff's Office provided aid to Deputy Herrera. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition where he succumbed to his wounds two days later.
Deputy Herrera had served with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for 11 years. He is survived by his wife.
Bio
- Age 35
- Tour 11 years
- Badge 4928
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Friday, March 22, 2019
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Charged with capital murder
Most Recent Reflection
View all 184 ReflectionsWife of fallen deputy Peter Herrera follows in husband’s footsteps and becomes detention officer
Posted: Mar 26, 2020 KTSM NEWS
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The widow of a fallen El Paso County Sheriff Deputy has followed in her husband’s footsteps and has graduated from the El Paso County Detention Officer Academy.
Ashley Herrera graduated from the Academy on Friday, March 20. She applied to become a detention officer in honor of her late husband who was killed during a traffic stop in San Elizario in March of 2019.
El Paso County Sheriff Deputy Peter Herrera was honored at a special ceremony in January 2020.
114 other fallen officers from around the nation who were killed in the line of duty were also honored during that ceremony.
Back in January, Sheriff Richard Wiles told KTSM 9 News, “After her husband passed away, she wanted to follow in his footsteps. She applied and was accepted into the academy and she’s going through training right now.”
14 other cadets graduated from the Academy and were honored during a special ceremony. They were part of the class 20-1.
Retired Police Officer
NYPD
March 26, 2020
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