Jaywalker shoots 8-year police veteran

Carolyn Hileman* | September 21, 2007

By: Judi Villa, Lindsey Collom and John Faherty

Phoenix police Officer Nick Erfle survived two bouts of cancer to put back on his uniform and patrol the city’s streets. On Tuesday, a jaywalker shot him in the face and killed him.

“He’s a hard charger. Even though he had a serious illness, he came back to work the streets as soon as he could,” Sgt. Joel Tranter said.
This will affect the officer’s family and the Phoenix Police Department forever. . . . It will always be a loss.”

The gunman, an illegal immigrant who had been deported last year, fled after shooting Erfle, commandeering a stopped car at gunpoint and ordering the motorist to drive. About an hour later, a Phoenix police tactical team surrounded Erik Jovani Martinez, 22, on a west Phoenix street and shot him dead as he pointed a gun at the hostage. The hostage was not hurt.

“The city of Phoenix, the citizens of Phoenix have lost another hero in our community,” Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Michael Frazier said, announcing Erfle’s death. “He died a hero doing the job he loved doing most.”

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