Man Dies After Collapsing During Tryout With Sheriff’s Office

EL PASO, Texas — El Paso County Sheriff’s officials confirm 37-year-old detention officer Cesar Arreola died Sunday morning after collapsing during a tryout on Saturday within thedepartment.

Officials said the 14-month veteran of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office was in the middle of tryouts for the Special Reaction Teamabout 9 a.m. Saturday when he began feeling out of breath and lightheaded.

He eventually collapsed. Medical staff treated him on site, andthen Arreola was taken to Sierra Providence East where he died about 5 a.m. Sunday, sheriff’s officials said.

Arreola graduated at the top of his class from the detention officers’ academy, sheriff’s officials said.

Hewas also a Gulf War veteran. He is survived by his wife of 16 years Martha, his 13-year-old daughter Jazmin and his 10-year-old son Angel.

A spokesman for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Sunday night:

“This is a very difficult and emotional time for the family. It is also a day that many hearts in the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office are suffering.”

Chief Deputy Sylvia Aguilar has authorized all Sheriff’s Office and Detention facility flags to be displayed at half-mast through the date of Arreola’s burial.

All uniform personnel will also wear a black mourning band or black strip of tape over their badge through the end of the services. Funeral arrangements are pending.