The Eyrie

TAFT, TX — A Taft police officer was found dead Friday in his Houston apartment, according to the Taft Police Department. The department identified the officer as Daniel Trujillo and said he had served with the agency for three years.

Taft police said they were “deeply saddened” to confirm his death and asked the public to respect the privacy of Trujillo’s family. The department also said the Houston Police Department is handling the investigation and directed questions about the case to Houston investigators.

Officials said they would release additional information as it becomes available. No cause of death was given in the department’s statement.

Houston police take over the investigation into Trujillo’s death

The circumstances around Trujillo’s death have not been publicly detailed. Taft police said Houston police are leading the case, which indicates the apartment and the investigation are centered in Houston rather than Taft.

At this point, authorities have not released information about what happened inside the apartment or whether foul play is suspected. The Taft Police Department has limited its public remarks to confirming the death, naming the officer, and asking for privacy while the case develops.

Houston police have not yet provided a public account of the investigation in the information released by Taft police. That leaves several basic questions unanswered, including the timeline of events before Trujillo was found dead.

Trujillo joined Taft police in 2023 after years in Texas law enforcement

Records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement show Trujillo joined the Taft Police Department on Oct. 2, 2023. Those records also show he was licensed as a peace officer in December 2019.

Before working in Taft, Trujillo was employed by the University of Texas System Police Department as a peace officer from December 2019 to July 2022. TCOLE records also show he served there as a telecommunications operator from April 2019 to February 2020.

His law enforcement career began in July 2017 with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, where records show he worked for about one month as a jailer. The records provide a timeline of service but do not include any details about the events surrounding his death.

Taft police ask community to support the family and wait for updates

The Taft Police Department’s public response focused on the human impact of the loss. In its statement, the department said it was deeply saddened by Trujillo’s death and emphasized concern for his relatives during what is likely a difficult and private time.

Police said more information would be shared when it is available, signaling that the case remains active. For now, the department has not identified any additional circumstances, and investigators have not released findings that would explain how Trujillo died.

That limited disclosure leaves the department relying on a brief public statement rather than a fuller account. The family, colleagues, and residents connected to the department are now waiting for Houston police to provide more answers.

What the public record shows about Trujillo’s service history

TCOLE records offer the clearest public picture of Trujillo’s professional background. They show a career that moved through several Texas law enforcement roles over the past several years before he joined Taft police in 2023.

Those records list both his peace officer licensing date and his earlier work history, giving a sense of his path into the department. They do not, however, address the circumstances of his death or the direction of the investigation.

For now, the public details are limited to his service record, the location where he was found, and the fact that Houston police are handling the case. Any further updates will likely come from investigators as they continue their work.

Questions remain as investigators continue to gather facts in Houston

With no cause of death released, the case remains open and largely unexplained in the public record. The most immediate confirmed facts are that Trujillo was found dead in his Houston apartment on Friday and that Houston police are investigating.

Taft police have not said when they last had contact with Trujillo or whether department officials were notified immediately after his death was discovered. They have also not released any information about memorial arrangements or internal department plans following his death.

As the investigation continues, the agencies involved appear to be limiting themselves to confirmed details. For now, the focus remains on answering how Trujillo died and what led to the discovery in Houston.