Politics & Government

Gov. Brown Orders Capitol Flags To Be Flown Half-Staff for Officer Cortez

The California governor offered his condolences to the family of the corrections officer who was killed Monday on state Route 79.

Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife offered condolences today to the family of a state corrections officer who, along with his service dog, was killed in a solo car crash on state Route 79, east of Lake Henshaw.

Brown also ordered all Capitol flags to be flown at half-staff today in honor of state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Officer Gilbert Cortez.

"Anne and I offer our deep condolences to Officer Cortez's family, friends and colleagues as they mourn the loss of this dedicated officer," Brown said in a statement. "We are grateful for his courage and years of service to the people of California."

Find out what's happening in Ramonawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Cortez, 46, was leading several prison-system vehicles southbound when he lost control of the marked Ford Crown Victoria about a half-mile south of San Felipe Road in the Warner Springs area shortly before 7:30 a.m. Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The sedan skidded out of control and rolled over, coming to rest on its wheels, the CHP reported.

Find out what's happening in Ramonawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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

The dog, a Belgian Malinois named Mattie, died in the wreck. No one else was in the car.

The wreck occurred as corrections personnel in five vehicles were en route to inspect La Cima Fire Camp, an inmate-staffed back-country firefighting outpost in the Julian area, said Jeffrey Callison, spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Cortez, a 23-year veteran of the state corrections agency, worked at California Rehabilitation Center in Riverside County and was part of its Southern Regional K-9 Unit. He is survived by his wife, their two children and his parents.

—City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here