Day of mourning declared for police officer who died following collision

Today is an official day of mourning for Officer Aníbal Morales Aponte, assigned to the Caguas Motorized Unit of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, who died last week as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident on Jan. 7.

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has declared today, Wednesday, Jan. 21, a day of mourning for the death of Officer Aníbal Morales Aponte, who was assigned to the Caguas Motorized Unit of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.

Morales Aponte, badge number 23726, passed away last Tuesday, Jan. 13, after being seriously injured in a traffic accident in Caguas on Jan. 7. The decision was made after the family announced that funeral services would be held today.

As part of the declaration, the flags at all public facilities will be flown at half-mast today as a sign of respect and solidarity.

Upon learning of the officer’s death, the governor expressed: “We feel profound sorrow at the passing of Officer Aníbal Morales Aponte, a loss that deeply affects us as a people,” the governor said in a written statement Tuesday.

“Officer Morales Aponte fought for his life with the same strength with which he served the Puerto Rico Police Department for 29 years,” González Colón said while extending her condolences to the officer’s mother, daughters, partner, family, and colleagues in the Caguas Motorized Unit.

The governor urged police officers to honor the officer’s memory with their daily service and emphasized that his legacy remains in the institution and in the gratitude of the people of Puerto Rico.