Police Officer Rosalin Suarez, Jr., McAllen Police Department, Texas

Police Officer Rosalin Suarez, Jr.

McAllen Police Department, Texas

End of Watch Tuesday, May 19, 1981

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Rosalin Suarez, Jr.

Police Officer Rosalin Suarez was shot and killed after he responded to a silent alarm at a business at 3 am.

Another officer reported seeing a burglar leave the opposite end of the building, and then Officer Suarez radioed that he was in a foot pursuit. After hearing a gunshot, the other office located Officer Suarez's body in the common area of an apartment complex several blocks away.

The subject was later arrested in possession of Officer Suarez's duty weapon, which he stole during the assault. The man had previously stolen the pistol used to shoot Officer Suarez twice from the same location. It had previously been recovered and was returned before the man stole it again. The man, 29, was originally sentenced to death, but in 1987 the sentence was reduced to life upon appeal.

Officer Suarez was a U.S. Army veteran who had served with the McAllen Police Department for three months and had previously served with the Pharr Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and brother, who later served with the McAllen Police Department.

Bio

Age 23
Tour 2 years, 3 months
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Derringer
Offender Sentenced to life

burglary, foot pursuit

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My name is Hector Blanco. I was Officer Rosalin Suarez's back up officer, on this fateful night. I don't know who the officer was that took great exception to the details in your synopsis, that made it more about the alarm call and how we handled these alarm calls. He didn't identify himself, enough said. The facts are there. We were a small agency, with limited equipment. The facts are in the court documents, as is my testimony. What court testimony doesn't show, was Rosalin was shot, 10 ft from his brother's, Richard Suarez, front door step. Richard followed in his brother's footsteps and became an outstanding McAllen Police Officer in his own right. I'm sorry to announce, we just lost Richard Suarez, to pancreatic cancer, on 08/16/22. It was my greatest honor to have served with both of these distinguished gentlemen. May God bless each and everyone of their families, for they are the backbone and our heroes, that support what we do. Thank you all and God bless.

P.O. 3 Hector Blanco
McAllen Tx. PD

August 17, 2022