A California police officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop Friday has become his department's first line-of-duty death in 80 years.
Officer Jorge David Alvarado initiated the stop near East Market and Griffin Street at around 10:40 pm Friday, according to Salinas Police Chief Roberto Filice.
The 30-year-old officer was a five-year veteran of the Salinas police force, a city around 60 miles south of San Jose in Monterey County.
Authorities did not immediately reveal how the traffic stop turned into a shooting, however Chief Filice commended the officer's actions during the deadly traffic stop that ultimately cost him his life.
'The officer stayed in the fight all the way to the end. Ultimately, he paid the price for it, he gave his life for it,' the chief said.
Pictured: slain Salinas Police Officer Jorge David Alvarado
Authorities at the crime scene of Friday's deadly shooting, which left a Salinas police officer dead
The Salinas Police Department salute their fallen officer, Jorge David Alvarado, who was a five-year veteran of the force
'But thanks to his actions, we were able to apprehend the suspect and we currently have him in custody.'
Salinas Mayor Kimberly Craig confirmed that Alvarado was the first officer in the city's police department to die in the line of duty in nearly 80 years in a press conference on Saturday.
'Our community and our police department are devastated,' Craig said of Alvarado.
'The death of a Salinas police officer in the line of duty has not occurred in nearly 80 years.'
'Our officers are grieving. They've lost a brother. We have lost a public servant,' she added.
'My request to the community, please support and embrace our police department right now. They are hurting.'
Salinas Police Chief Filice commended Alvarado's actions during the deadly traffic stop that ultimately cost him his life
Flowers are left outside the Salinas PD as community members, and officers mourn Jorge David Alvarado, and an officer of the Salinas Fire Department wipes tears from her eyes during a press conference
Pictured: the location in Salinas where Alvarado was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Friday
The suspected shooter, who has not been named as of Saturday, has been taken into police custody, according to Filice.
As per protocol in police-involved shootings, the investigation into the fatal shooting has since been turned over to Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni, Filice said.
'The death of an officer while performing his duties takes a huge toll on a police department,' Pacioni added.
It was unclear what police officer had died in the line of duty prior to Alvarado's shooting death.
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