Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
End of Watch: Monday, December 28, 2015
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 28 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 28, 2015
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 203 years
Commander Frank Román, Lieutenant Luz Soto, and Agent Rosario Hernández de Hoyos were shot inside the Puerto Rico Police Department's Ponce regional headquarters, near the intersection of PR-1 and PR-52, by a disgruntled police officer.
The subject had entered the headquarters building with two guns and a knife. He proceeded to the sixth floor, where he took all three officers hostage. He told Lieutenant Soto to call the press officer, but the call did not go through. The subject then opened fire on the officers, fatally wounding them, before exchanging shots with another officer.
The subject was taken into custody and was transported to a local hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. He was sentenced to serve 203 years and six months.
Commander Román had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 28 years. He was recognized as Commander of the Year in 2014. Commander Román is survived by three children.