Police gather to salute officer who died during Hurricane Harvey

Perez was two days away from his 61st birthday

HOUSTON – Houston police are remembering a veteran officer who died while trying to drive to work during Hurricane Harvey.

Officers stood to salute Sgt. Steve Perez, whose body was escorted Monday from a forensic facility to an area funeral home.

Perez left his home at 4 a.m. the Sunday after Harvey made landfall, but after 2 1/2 hours he called his commander saying he couldn't get through.

He tried to get to a station that was closer, but was never heard from again.

Houston's police chief said Perez's wife asked him not to try and go into work that day, but he responded, "We've got work to do."

Perez was two days away from his 61st birthday and had been with the department for 23 years.