CONDOLENCES SOUTH
Police chief recalls fallen officer as ‘sweet, gentle’
The heartbroken chief of the Houston Police Department choked back tears while confirming the tragic drowning death of Sgt. Steve Perez, a 34-year veteran he said set out into the raging storm despite pleas from his wife to stay home because the longtime officer felt there was “work to do.”
“The wife told me she asked him not to go in,” Houston police Chief Art Acevedeo said of Sgt. Steve Perez. “His response was, ‘We got work to do.’ ”
Acevedo, who described the 60-year-old as “a sweet and gentle public servant” who “laid down his life” said Perez died after becoming trapped in floodwaters while driving to work in the early-morning hours Sunday.
“Unfortunately, in the darkness, Sgt. Perez drove into an underpass that’s around 16 1⁄2 (feet deep), drove into the water and he died in a flood, drowning-type event,” Acevedo said, adding that local officials struggled with the decision to hold off on recovering his body, which was found yesterday morning.
“Once our dive team got there it was too treacherous to go under and look for him so we made a decision to leave officers there waiting until the morning because as much as we wanted to recover him last night, we could not put more officers at risk for what we knew in our hearts would be a recovery mission,” Acevedo said.
In a statement yesterday, the Houston Police Department said Perez’s death “reminds us of the dangers that police officers willingly face every day in order to serve this great City. We will go through this extremely difficult and trying time with heavy hearts sadly reminded of the ultimate sacrifice one of our own paid. Words cannot adequately express the sense of loss of the Perez family and their extended Houston Police family are experiencing.”
Perez, who leaves behind his wife, Cheryl, and a grown son and daughter, was hailed for the courage he showed in the face of an unprecedented weather emergency.
“Like Steve, we will not (waver) and we will not stop until we meet the immediate safety and security needs of the community Steve and his HPD family love to serve,” the statement read.
In a message posted to Twitter, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner wrote, “Sergeant Perez fulfilled his purpose. His mission is complete. This city ought to celebrate his life.”