Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
End of Watch Sunday, October 6, 1985
Herminio Lopez-Pilar
Policeman Homero Ortiz-Martinez, Policeman Herminio Lopez-Pilar, Sergeant Francisco Diaz-Melendez, drowned when their patrol car fell through a broken bridge into a swollen river during Tropical Storm Isabel.
The officers were responding to a distress call while driving along PR-52 Luis A. Ferre Expressway. When they arrived at marker 78.1 they did not realize the bridge had collapsed completely, and their vehicle fell into the Coamo River along with other vehicles. It was concluded that heavy rains caused the bridge to collapse and poor visibility obscured the missing portion of the bridge.
Policeman Pedro Burgos-Lacourt drowned the following day while working on efforts to recover the patrol car from the river.
Policeman Pedro Burgos-Lacourt drowned the following day while working on efforts to recover the patrol car from the river.
Bio
- Age 39
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Automobile crash
Most Recent Reflection
View all 5 ReflectionsYour heroism and service is honored today, the 24th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.
Rest In Peace
Phyllis Loya
Anonymous
October 7, 2009
Recent LODD Deaths

Deputy Sheriff Casey L. Shoemate
Miller County Sheriff's Office, MO
EOW: April 20, 2018

Sergeant Noel Ramirez
Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: April 19, 2018

Deputy Sheriff Taylor Lindsey
Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: April 19, 2018

Police Officer Sean McNamee Gannon
Yarmouth Police Department, MA
EOW: April 12, 2018

Patrolman Kevin F. Crossley
Whitesboro Police Department, NY
EOW: April 11, 2018

Police Officer Keith O'Neal Earle
Huntsville Police Department, AL
EOW: April 9, 2018

Corporal Dale Shannon Hallman
Saluda County Sheriff's Office, SC
EOW: April 6, 2018

Police Officer Phillip Lynn Meacham
Hopkinsville Police Department, KY
EOW: March 29, 2018

Trooper First Class Kevin M. Miller
Connecticut State Police, CT
EOW: March 29, 2018