Luis Paez , Ralph “Butch” Waller Obituary, Death – The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) has released the identities of two deputies killed and another critically injured in a tragic accident on Thursday morning. The incident occurred while the deputies were working a traffic patrol, described by Sheriff Ric Bradshaw as a “horrific accident.”
The three motorcycle deputies had stopped to address a mechanical issue with one of the bikes, which appeared to have a dead battery. They moved the motorcycle to a grassy area along the roadside and were waiting for another deputy to bring jumper cables. During this time, an SUV veered off the road after the driver overcorrected and lost control, striking the deputies.
The two fallen deputies have been identified as Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller.
- Corporal Luis Paez was a veteran of more than 36 years in law enforcement. He began his career with PBSO in 1988 as a corrections deputy and later transitioned to patrol. Paez dedicated over 20 years to serving as a motor deputy.
- Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller served for over 18 years with PBSO’s motor unit. His law enforcement career started with the Royal Palm Beach Police Department, which merged with PBSO in 2008.
The third deputy, Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, sustained critical injuries and is currently fighting for his life. Diaz has served with PBSO since 2004 and has been part of the motor unit for over a decade.
The PBSO and the broader community are mourning the loss of these dedicated officers while hoping for the recovery of Deputy Diaz. Investigations into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.