Christopher BergWest Miami-Dade, FL – Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Special Agent Jose Perez died Saturday after succumbing to injuries he sustained in the line of duty when he was involved in a collision on Aug. 2.
The 55-year-old officer was in his unmarked patrol car responding to an alarm at the FDLE Miami Regional Operations Center on Aug. 2 when he was involved in a collision with another vehicle, according to WSVN.
The officer was critically wounded in the crash and needed to be extricated from his vehicle.
Special Agent Perez was transported to the hospital where he fought for his life for 17 days before succumbing to his injuries on Saturday.
The FDLE said that Special Agent Perez “faithfully served over 21 years in the United States armed forces with the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army, in both the active and reserve components.”
During his career in law enforcement, Special Agent Perez worked for the Miami Police Department, where he retired as a major, the Florida Department of Corrections’ Inspector General’s Office as a sworn investigator, with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as sworn officer, as acting police chief with the Village of El Portal Police Department, with Florida Department of Health as medical malpractice investigator, with the Attorney General’s Office a medical fraud investigator and then as an FDLE special agent, according to the FDLE.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Agent Perez, who spent his entire life serving others from the United States armed forces to more than 30 years in law enforcement,” FDLE Acting Commissioner Mark Glass wrote, according to WSVN. “Our country, our state, our community and FDLE are better because of his dedication. Rest in peace, our brave hero. You will never be forgotten.”
Special Agent Perez is survived by his wife and three daughters, according to CBS News.
🙏 Please take a moment of silence and prayer for FDLE Special Agent Jose Perez who died a hero in the line of duty. For more than 35 years combined, Agent Perez served our country, state and the City of Miami. pic.twitter.com/U6wjZeyuYu
— FDLE (@fdlepio) August 21, 2022
Today the law enforcement family came together to pay respect to fallen Special Agent Jose Perez.
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) August 21, 2022
⬛️🟦⬛️ #NeverForget #FallenHero pic.twitter.com/QVNzAeefPN
Special Agent Jose Perez spent his life serving others, in the U.S. Armed Forces and, for over 30 years, in law enforcement. @CaseyDeSantis are I are praying for his family & his fellow @fdlepio officers. https://t.co/yRfRlnZUjg
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 21, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of FDLE Special Agent Jose Perez, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Holly Matkin
Sandy Malone
