Press Releases

Release Date/Time: 2/1/2010 1:24 PM
Incident: Salinas Police Officer Death
Date: Monday, 2/1/2010
Time: 1:24 PM
Location:

Salinas Police Officer Joseph Pusateri, 43, passed away Sunday, January 31, 2010, unexpectedly following a motorcycle accident. Joe was participating in a motorcycle race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada when the accident occurred.

 

Joe attended the Gavilan Police Academy and started his law enforcement career with the Watsonville Police Department in January 1999. In October 2002, the Watsonville Police Department awarded Joe the Combat Cross for heroism. In April 2005, he was hired with the Salinas Police Department. Joe was a field training officer, member of the department’s SWAT team, bicycle unit, firearms range staff, and a motorcycle officer.

 

Joe was a resident of the City of Salinas and is survived by his wife and children. Funeral arrangements are pending. A memorial fund is being established at Wells Fargo Bank under the “Joseph Pusateri Memorial Fund”.