Mesa, Arizona — Sergeant Brandon Mendoza, a 13-year veteran of the Mesa Police Department, was killed on May 12, 2014, in a tragic head-on collision caused by an intoxicated illegal immigrant driving the wrong way on the freeway.

Mendoza, who was 32 years old and off-duty at the time, was driving home after completing his shift when his vehicle was struck by Raul Silva-Corona, 42. Silva-Corona had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.24% — more than three times the legal limit — and had been traveling the wrong direction for over 30 miles on multiple Phoenix-area freeways. Several officers had attempted to stop him before the fatal crash. Silva-Corona also died in the collision.

Background:

• Mendoza began his career with the Mesa Police Department as an Explorer and later served as an Animal Control Officer before becoming a police officer.
• He was one of the first officers in the department to volunteer to wear a body camera.
• He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Silva-Corona was an illegal immigrant who had lived in the U.S. for over 20 years. He had a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1994, including charges for burglary and assaulting a police officer. He had previously been apprehended by Border Patrol in 2012 but was released.

Sergeant Mendoza’s death has been cited frequently in discussions about immigration enforcement, DUI laws, and public safety. His mother, Mary Ann Mendoza, has become a vocal advocate for stricter immigration policies and stronger measures against criminal illegal immigrants.

The case continues to be remembered by law enforcement communities across the country as a heartbreaking example of the human cost of repeated failures in the immigration and criminal justice systems.

End of Watch: May 12, 2014 Rest in peace, Sergeant Mendoza.