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Born on June 13, 1947, in Quebradilla, Puerto Rico. Moved with his family to Miami around 1958 when he was 11 years old. Joined the U.S. Army in 1968 and served a tour of duty in Vietnam seeing combat duty in the infantry. After his discharge in 1970 he returned to Miami. He joined the Miami Police Department in 1982. On May 30, 1995 he died after falling through the opening between the roadway and upright span of a drawbridge while looking for the bridge tender in the dark during duty. Officer Santiago and his partner, Jose Paz, had just arrested a man breaking into a car and were on their way to see if the bridge tender owned the vehicle. Officer Santiago's name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. (West Wall, Panel 17, Line 20).