 Fallen officer honored,
remembered
By Mike McGregor
CHAIRMAN, ASSIST FALLEN OFFICER FUND
On the afternoon of Jan. 1, Security Officer Cruz Vite lost his life while on
duty. Officer Vite was working the toll booth area of the Paso Del Norte Bridge in El Paso connecting USA and Mexico. An altercation involving a young male took place. Vite was struck several times during the altercation and suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital where he died.
Vite was an employee of Mike Garcia Merchant Security and had been employed in security for 10 years. He leaves a wife and two stepdaughters.
It was my honor to be present at the funeral home as well as at the funeral representing both ASSIST and the Fallen Officer Fund. The security officers of El Paso paid their respects mounting an honor guard at the funeral home during the public viewing.
Officers from several companies including Akal, All American, American Ranger, CRH, Sabuki, Securitas, Sun City, U.S. Security, Trans-American and Wackenhut provided officers for the honor guard, as well as the numerous officers who paid their respects to the family. State Representative Pat Haggerty and Trooper A. Perida of the Texas DPS PSB also paid their respect to the family on Sunday evening.
The ASSIST flag for the El Paso region was on display both at the funeral home and the church to show security’s unity in honoring Officer Vite.
On the day of Vite’s funeral, officers from the above security companies, the U.S. Border Patrol, El Paso Police Department, Yselta Independent School District Security (Officer Vite’s previous employer) and Precinct 4 constables participated in the procession. The procession included Vite’s personal vehicle,
28 marked security vehicles as well as official vehicles from law enforcement. More than 85 uniformed security officers attended the graveside service as well as officers from the law enforcement agencies listed above. El Paso Police Chief Wiles and Deputy Chief Adcox attended the graveside service. All of the above paid their respects to Vite’s family at the end of the ceremony. Television coverage was
provided by four local TV
stations.
The ASSIST Fallen Officer Fund is attending to the financial needs of the family during this period, as well as checking on the family regularly. The family is recovering from this tragedy.
Vite joins a growing list of Texas security professionals who have given their all in the line of duties. To see the security and law enforcement community come forward to pay their respects and honor the sacrifice of Officer Vite, demonstrates that the differences between us are becoming less and the common ground more as security evolves.
The changes in security over the last 10 years have shown leaders in both law enforcement as well as security the fact that security does serve the needs and impacts the quality of life of the community.
Please remember Officer Vite and the security officers that are on the street daily in your prayers. Vite will be added to the roll of Texas security officers that will go 10-8 no more.
Ongoing news is that by this fall the Fallen Officer Fund should be approved for status as a tax deductible charity allowing us to expand our efforts to support the families of our fallen officers.
If you wish to make a donation or to enroll your staff for a payroll deduction to the Fallen Officer Fund please contact me at 972-497-9200 or by
e-mail at fallenofficer@assisttexas.org.
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Donations to the Fallen Officer Fund can be made online (click
here) or by mailing them to:
ASSIST Fallen Officers Fund, 3300 Bee Caves Road Suite 650-119, Austin, TX
78746. For additional information click here or contact Mike McGregor, Chairman of the Fallen Officer Fund, at (214)
342-2200, or e-mail him at fallenofficer@assisttexas.org. |
Click here to download the Employee
Deduction Application (PDF)
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