An Odessa woman has been charged in connection to the September death of a DPS trooper in Ector County.
Laura Lorena Rodriguez was booked into the Ector County Detention Center Tuesday morning on two charges of aggravated assault against a public servant following a Sept. 17 incident that killed the trooper and injured an Ector County Sheriff’s Department deputy.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis on the day of the accident said a Department of Public Safety Trooper and one of his deputies were injured on Highway 302 near Notrees.
Griffis said the accident occurred between 8:30 and 9 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Highway 302, just east of Notrees. The deputy was assisting DPS with traffic control following an accident.
Griffis said his deputy is recovered and back at work.
DPS Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez was initially transported to Medical Center Hospital but was later airlifted to a Lubbock area hospital where he later died.
Hundreds gathered at Community of Faith Church in Hockley on Oct. 3 to pay their respects to Vasquez.
His parents and three siblings were surrounded by family and friends as they said their final goodbyes to the young trooper who joined DPS in 2023. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick both attended the services. They were joined by Public Safety Commission Chairman Steven Mach and Commissioners Dan Hord III and Larry Long.
“Throughout his young life, Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez served his state and his country with incredible honor and dignity,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “Each of us in this department are fortunate to have served alongside him, and every day we will now work to ensure his memory lives on. We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received since his passing, and I ask that you please continue to keep his family, friends and colleagues in your prayers.”
Vasquez began his law enforcement career when he joined DPS as a member of Recruit Class A-2023. He was stationed in Odessa. Trooper Ramirez Vasquez lived a life of service, serving in the United States Army prior to joining the department and serving in the National Guard.
Trooper Ramirez Vasquez is the 241st DPS officer to die in the line of duty since 1823.
