L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Killed
The L.A. Times reports: Sheriff’s Deputy Killed in Hawaiian Gardens. The deputy’s name was Jerry Ortiz:
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed this afternoon after he knocked on the door in an apartment complex in Hawaiian Gardens, authorities said.
Deputy Jerry Ortiz, 35, a 15-year veteran of the department, was shot in the head as he was speaking to a woman in the apartment, said Undersheriff Larry Waldie.
Deputies believe they know who the suspect is and are searching for him.
The shooting occurred about 3:10 p.m. in the 12200 block of 223rd Street. Ortiz was airlifted to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. But Waldie said doctors said Ortiz was probably killed instantly.
The news stories are all reporting that Ortiz has two sons, and was recently married. None has yet reported that this is not the first time Ortiz had a gun pointed at him:
One day in mid-August, two Lakewood residents found themselves the unfortunate victims of an attempted carjacking near Pioneer and Del Amo Boulevards. Moments later, they flagged down a patrol car, explaining to Deputy Tim Brennan and Deputy Jerry Ortiz how they had been stopped at a light when they were confronted by a suspect with an automatic weapon. They’d put their vehicle in reverse and backed up an entire city block before turning it around and locating the deputies.
Using the description of the suspect and his getaway vehicle, the deputies began their search, spotting a similar car nearby within minutes. Deputy Ortiz and Deputy Brennan followed the car as it made a series of sudden and erratic movements. The deputies noticed that the three young men inside the car were bending over, as if concealing or retrieving a weapon.
When the car veered toward the curb, one of the passengers exited with a gun and quickly pointed it at Deputy Brennan. Fearing for his partner’s life, Deputy Ortiz fired his duty weapon at the suspect who turned and ran.
With houses all around, Deputy Ortiz ordered the man to stop and drop the gun. Ignoring the order, the suspect turned and pointed his weapon at the deputy. Now in fear for his own life, Deputy Ortiz fired at the suspect, fatally striking him. Two suspected gang members were arrested in the incident and a sawed-off .22 caliber rifle was seized from their car. This case led to multiple search warrants and the eventual arrest of an additional suspect in Arizona.
For this act of bravery, Deputy Ortiz and his partner Tim Brennan (with whom my wife and I have both worked) received an Award of Valor.
Say a prayer for his family.
UPDATE: The version of the story that will run in tomorrow’s paper includes the information on Dep. Ortiz’s medal, though it states that the carjacker drew a gun on Dep. Ortiz “and his partner, Det. Colin Orpe.” This conflicts with the information in the link I give above, which states that his partner at the time was Tim Brennan. I don’t know for sure which is right.
UPDATE x2 (6-25-05): A suspect has been arrested. This story also says that Dep. Brennan was the other recipient of the valor award.
UPDATE x3 (6-26-05): So does this story. I wrote the L.A. Times reporters about this at the time of the original post; no correction so far.
UPDATE x4: Much more available here.
Thanks for posting about Jerry. I worked with him in patrol for about 3 years before he left to GET. Things are tough right now at the station but appreciate you spotlighting Jerry’s career.
Curt
Curt (f752e6) — 6/26/2005 @ 3:17 pmMuch more here, too: http://nickstewart.blogspot.com/2005/06/lasd-deputy-jerry-ortiz-killed.html
Nick (68714e) — 6/26/2005 @ 11:20 pmThis is such a tragic story. I happened to be attending the National Memorial for Correctional Officers who were killled in the line of duty on Friday in Portland. Did you know that Deputy Ortiz was the brother-in law of Correctional Officer Manuel Gonzalez who was brutally murdered by and inmate at CIM in January? Right after the memorial service on Friday for Officer Gonzalez this poor family had to be told their favorite uncle had also been killed.
All of our prayers and heart felt sorrow go out to this entire family.
Kendel Arquilla
Kendel Arquilla (83a77f) — 6/27/2005 @ 10:12 amI am related to Officer Ortiz’s first wife, Sylvia, by marriage. Is anyone opening a college scholarship fund for his two sons? Nothing has been said on the news, but I believe the public would be very supportive of this. Thank you for any information on this, and do keep the family in your prayers. God bless you for this service.
Rosa Castillo (cd2f35) — 6/27/2005 @ 10:55 amI met Jerry back in 98 when I use to work at The Los Angeles Police Academy (LAPRAAC). He would go in the store and buy equipment or just to say,
Jen Mendoza (a4e924) — 6/30/2005 @ 7:51 am” Hello” with his son. He was always polite and always had a smile.
I remeber him telling me thathe was also a boxer for his department.
My prayers go out to his family and fellow officers. God bless them all!
I know Jerry from High School El Monte. I knew he was a Deputy I actually pulled him over about 5 years ago when he was in Industry Shreiffs. We had talked about about High School, but in reality you could tell by his words how much he loved his job. He was telling me about the Boxing thing. But he had said he wanted to a SWAT member that was his goal, also that he would compete in Triathlons, and that he had his Harley and his best friend was George his compadre which I also grew up with him since we were 10 years old. I was at his funeral along with alot of friends and also at the El Monte Community Center for the Family after the services. Once again Thank You Jesse
Jesse Romo (0bc5ce) — 7/7/2005 @ 4:44 amI met Dep. Ortiz at the Lakewood Station. I was a young teen, trying to fit in and hanging with the wrong crowd. I went to jail for somethisng something my girlfriend did. My girlfriend at the time was well known and wanted for numerous crimes, of course she didn’t show me that side of her since it was a fresh relationship. But as I was in custody, everybody treated me and talked to me like a hard criminal. I cant explain the fear I was feeling, when everybody was treating me as such because they thought I was just like her, and maybe used to it. I have never experienced that type of treatment. That’s when Jerry came in. He was the detective at the time handling my girlfriends case. I will never forget the comfort in his voice when he spoke to me. He treated me like a normal person and gave me advise along with a little story of his life and how he grew up and how we all the capability of getting out of the “ghetto” and focusing on goals and things in life we would like to accomplish. He talked to me like if he already new me, he knew that wasn’t my style nor the way I was brought up, and still gave me words of encouragment to open my eyes. At that momment you were like my “Angel in Disguise.” I found comfort in your words and applied your advise to my new changed life, and I thank you. There are some Cops that are not fit to be a Cop because they do it just for the title. You were a Cop that was meant to be a Cop because you helped people, you wanted to change things, you were known to be fair and give people chances. And I cant believe the fact that now your gone. I dont understand why, when we need more people like you around. I know God only want’s the best and that’s why he took you! but please know… Out of all the people you lectured, Im one that actually listened. You will always be in my prayers and a hero in my heart. God bless you, and your family…
M.ROCHA (570cbd) — 5/7/2007 @ 12:27 am