Brother Honors Fallen South Tucson Officer 33 Years After Line-of-Duty Death | Top Stories

SOUTH TUCSON, Ariz. — More than three decades after South Tucson Police Officer John Valenzuela was killed in the line of duty, his brother continues an annual tradition to honor his memory.

Valenzuela was shot and killed in May 1993 while serving a search warrant near 38th Street and Ninth Avenue in South Tucson. He was 27 years old.

Each year on the anniversary of his death, James Valenzuela returns to the South Tucson Police Department for a ride-along with officers, a tradition he says helps him stay connected to his older brother.

“Most people that go through this carry a really big hole in their heart that is never going to be filled,” James Valenzuela said. “You truly have to either go on or you get stuck. Part of me died on that day.”

James Valenzuela says he still thinks about his brother every day and hopes the tradition also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices law enforcement officers and their families make.

He said the annual ride-along is not only about honoring his brother’s memory, but also supporting current officers who continue to put their lives on the line.

South Tucson Police Officer Michael Cruz says although he never knew Officer Valenzuela personally, his sacrifice continues to impact the department.

“It’s very hard,” Cruz said. “Whenever we lose a fellow officer it always hits hard with the community and the departments. I am grateful that we are honoring him. He made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, giving his life for citizens, the city and the department.”

As the years pass, James Valenzuela says families of fallen officers continue carrying the loss long after the public attention fades.

“I lived an officer’s worst nightmare,” he said. “But on the flipside, I want to make sure people know that it is a tough job, and they need to know that we as the surviving people will have to carry that until the day we die.”

To honor his brother’s legacy, James Valenzuela says he named his son John.