Richard P Orengo

Puerto Rico

June 26, 2003

Richard P. Orengo had worked since 1996 as a police officer with the motorcycle unit in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, a suburb of San Juan. Police officers in his unit cried when hearing he died June 26 from gunshot wounds while investigating a car theft in Iraq. Orengo is survived by his wife, Carmen Ivette Berrios Rodriguez, and children ages 7, 8 and 18.

From the Charlotte Observer

Orengo had worked since 1996 as a police officer with the motorcycle unit in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, a suburb of San Juan.

Police officers in his unit cried at news of his death and hung a photo adorned with a black ribbon in the unit's headquarters, while many Puerto Rican and U.S. flags flew at half-staff in the U.S. Caribbean territory.

Orengo, 32, died June 26 from gunshot wounds suffered while investigating a car theft in Iraq. Orengo had been assigned to the 755th Military Police Company in Arecibo and was sent to Iraq in May.

Orengo is survived by his wife, Carmen Ivette Berrios Rodriguez, and children, ages 7, 8 and 18.