Crime & Safety

Updated: Corrections Officer Killed in SR 79 Crash ID'd as Gilbert Cortez, 46

A Correctional Peace Officer who said he's worked with the fallen officer for the past few years said he was "a great asset to our agency and will be missed by many."

Updated at 5:10 p.m. on March 25

A 23-year veteran correctional officer, Gilbert Cortez, and his K-9, Mattie, died this morning when their car rolled off the road, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR) said.

According to the agency, Cortez and four other K-9 teams in separate cars were driving south on state Route 79 on their way to conduct a search of La Cima Fire Camp this morning.

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California Highway Patrol reported Cortez lost control of the marked Ford Crown Victoria about a half-mile south of San Felipe Road in the Warner Springs area at 7:21 a.m.

Medics took Cortez to a nearby fire station, where he died before he could be put into an emergency-services helicopter for a flight to a trauma center.

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“All of us at CDCR mourn the tragic death of Officer Gilbert Cortez,” said California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary Jeff Beard. “He was a valued member of our department and his untimely passing, in the line of duty, is a huge loss to all who worked with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gil’s family, friends and colleagues. We are also deeply saddened by the death of Gil’s K-9 partner, Mattie.”

Cortez, 46, worked at California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) and was part of the Southern Regional K-9 Unit, according to CDCR. He started his career at CDCR in 1990 at the California Institution for Men and was transferred to CRC in 2001 where he subsequently completed K-9 training.

A Correctional Peace Officer who said he's worked with the fallen officer for the past few years and requested his name be withheld, told Patch he was "a great asset to our agency and will be missed by many."

Officer Cortez is survived by his wife, their two children and his parents, authorities said.

His K-9 partner, Mattie, was a Belgian Malinois, donated by a private citizen in the San Diego area, CDCR said. Mattie began working with Officer Cortez in August 2011 and was certified to search for contraband and narcotics.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. No other vehicles were involved as Cortez’s vehicle was ahead of the others.

CHP reported no other other occupants in the sedan and re-opened the road at 2:48 p.m.

—City New Service contributed to this report.

Updated at 2:30 p.m. on March 25

A corrections officer and his dog were killed Monday morning after a single-car accident on state Route 79 Monday morning, authorities reported.

A SigAlert was issued by California Highway PAtrol for state Route 79 south of San Felipe Road just before 8 a.m. Monday morning after the fatal car accident, which involved a California Corrections Officer.

The marked Ford Crown Victoria was in a small caravan of southbound prison vehicles when it veered out of control for unknown reasons and overturned about a half-mile from San Felipe Road in the Warner Springs area shortly before 7:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

About a half-dozen corrections vehicles were en route to inspect inmate-staffed back-country fire camps in eastern San Diego County, said Jeffrey Callison, spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The California Rehabilitation Center told Patch that reports were coming in that one of their officers was the victims, but nothing could be immediately confirmed.

A Correctional Peace Officer who said he's worked with the fallen officer for the past few years and requested his name be withheld, said he was "a great asset to our agency and will be missed by many."

10News reported that the officer was in the car with a police dog on the way to a search of one of the inmate facilities in the area. Authorities said the car drifted from the roadway and rolled over, according to 10News.

CHP re-opened the road at 2:48 p.m.

Patch will keep you updated with details as they come in.

—City News Service contributed to this report.

Original story

A SigAlert was issued for state Route 79 south of San Felipe Road just before 8 a.m. Monday morning after a fatal car accident involving a corrections officer and his dog, according to California Highway Patrol.

CHP said a vehicle involved may have been a correctional officer's and that a dog, used as a K-9 unit, was "possibly killed."

Authorities couldn't confirm if more cars were involved, but said the collision occurred at 7:21 a.m.

Cal Fire Warner Springs was first to respond on scene.

10News reported that the officer was in the car with a police dog on the way to a search of one of the inmate facilities in the area. Authorities said the car drifted from the roadway and rolled over, according to 10News.

Patch will keep you updated as details become available.


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