09/21/2026
Today, we remember Officer Ronnie Ray Lerma, who was killed in the line of duty on September 21, 1998.
Officer Lerma was conducting a traffic stop along Interstate 635 near Centerville Road when he was struck. The impact also struck the vehicle he had stopped. Ronnie and the driver of that vehicle were both killed.
He was 39 years old.
Ronnie began his law enforcement career with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office in 1984 before joining the Garland Police Department in 1987. He served our community for 11 years and left behind his wife and two young daughters.
Twenty-eight years have passed, but his service, his sacrifice, and the family he left behind will never be forgotten.
Ronnie’s youngest daughter, Emalie, was only five years old when she lost her father. Years later, she began working at the Garland Police Department, carrying his legacy in her own way.
For more than nine years, Emalie served as our Crime Victim’s Advocate, helping victims and families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. She dedicated her career to supporting others as they navigated tragedy and circumstances they never imagined they would face.
This past Friday marked Emalie’s final day with the Garland Police Department as she prepares to begin a new chapter in her career with a federal agency.
This day is filled with special meaning, her first day in the office of her new career is today, September 21, the anniversary of her father’s End of Watch.
Emalie, you have always been family, and that will never change. As you begin this next chapter, know that your Garland Police family is right behind you, supporting you and cheering you on.
Today, we remember Ronnie, and we are reminded that a legacy can live on in ways we could never have imagined.
Officer Ronnie Ray Lerma
End of Watch: September 21, 1998
“Sleep with Angels”
