Colleagues of a rookie Escondido Police Officer killed by her husband decided to honor the slain cop by targeting domestic violence fugitives this week.
More than 30 fugitives were arrested in a two-day warrant sweep held in honor of a Officer Laura Perez.
Perez was murdered by her husband, Freddy Perez-Rodas two years ago.
Escondido PD superiors believed the 25-year-old Perez had a bright future in the department. She was described as a "rising star."
Then, in July 2014, Riverside County homicide investigators found the officer’s body in a storage locker in Moreno.
Beginning Nov. 3, Escondido Police worked with U.S. Marshals to serve more than 100 warrants in a two-day sweep called “Operation Laura.”
The joint operation involved more than 110 state, local and federal officers targeting high-risk felons, according to Lt. Greg Kohler with the Escondido Police Department.
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Fugitives wanted for everything from weapons charges to sex crimes to armed robbery and narcotics. They also added fugitives to the list wanted on domestic violence charges.
“It was important for us to recognize her and more importantly to recognize domestic violence is an important problem in our county,” Kohler said.
As a result of the operation, a number of felony and misdemeanor warrants were closed, five new drug cases were opened and one person was arrested, accused of possessing stolen property.
At his Dec. 4 sentencing, Perez-Rodas faces 49 years to life in prison for second-degree murder, arson of an inhabited dwelling and an allegation of use of a gun causing death.
