The Midland Police Department (MPD) joined several West Texas law enforcement agencies on October 1 to honor the late Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) highway trooper Kevin Ramirez Vasquez.
MPD shared a video of the memorial service for Ramirez Vasquez, aged 25, in an October 3 Facebook post. The video depicted the plane carrying his remains departing the airfield amidst a water cannon salute.
According to MPD, Ramirez Vasquez was struck by a vehicle on September 17 while investigating a crash along State Highway (SH) 302 in adjacent Ector County. He succumbed to his injuries on September 28. MPD extended its thoughts and prayers to the late law enforcement officer’s family, friends, and the entire Texas DPS community in a September 30 Facebook post.
DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a September 29 press release that Ramirez Vasquez "served this state honorably to his very last breath." According to McCraw, Ramirez Vasquez joined DPS in 2023 after serving in the U.S. Army and the National Guard. He is noted as being the 241st DPS officer to die in the line of duty since 1823. Ramirez Vasquez leaves behind his parents and three siblings.