SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the death of Los Angeles Police Department Officer Chris Cortijo:
“Officer Cortijo dedicated more than half of his life to public service. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. Anne and I are deeply saddened to learn of his passing, and we join the Los Angeles Police Department and his family and friends in mourning their loss.”
Officer Cortijo, 51, of North Hollywood, was on his departmental motorcycle last Saturday when he was struck from behind by a suspected DUI driver who failed to stop for a red light. He was critically injured in the collision and died from his injuries today.
Officer Cortijo was a motorcycle officer and DUI task force member at the Los Angeles Police Department, where he had served for 26 years. He is survived by his three children and four grandchildren.
In honor of Officer Cortijo, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.