West Covina mourns the sudden loss of a valued police officer, Matthew Ortiz, who was also a respected Marine Corps veteran. The West Covina Police Department reports that Officer Ortiz's family and the department have received a significant outpouring of support.
Matthew Ortiz began his career in public service with the Marine Corps in July 2015 and served for four years before receiving an honorable discharge in July 2019. Following a family tradition of law enforcement, he joined the Los Angeles Police Department in September 2019. He continued his service until August 2022, then briefly served in the Grand Prairie Police Department in Texas, according to the West Covina Police Department's announcement.
To make a return to his hometown, Officer Ortiz moved back to West Covina in February 2023, joining the local police department in July 2023.
In honor of his passing, the West Covina Police Department lobby was closed until this morning at 7:30 a.m. for grieving officers, as stated by the West Covina PD.
