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SAN BENITO — Minutes before 10 a.m. on Saturday, as a few dozen members of the San Benito Police Department slowly filled the first few pews of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Melissa Resendez made her way across the church greeting everyone with a hug and a smile.
Those in attendance were at the church for a remembrance Mass celebrating the life of Resendez’s late husband, San Benito police Lt. Milton Resendez, on the third anniversary of his death.
He was shot and killed late Oct. 17, 2023 while responding to a police chase that began earlier that day in South Padre Island and Brownsville before going to San Benito.
His killer, 21-year-old Rogelio Martinez, was found guilty of Resendez’s murder on Thursday, Oct. 8. On Monday, the punishment phase of the trial begins and prosecutors will be seeking the death penalty.
During Saturday’s Mass, Father Genaro Garza delivered a homily in which he recognized the bravery of first responders who place themselves in harm’s way to protect their community, as Resendez had done on the night he was killed.
“Every day, police officers and first responders — they put on their uniforms and every day they’re prepared to protect lives, to respond to emergencies, and to make difficult decisions where every second counts,” Garza said. “They willingly and wholeheartedly go where danger exists, because they made that commitment to protect and to serve others.”
“I think a lot of us, we have that expectation — we expect someone to come when we call 9-1-1,” he continued. “We expect someone to run toward the fire, toward the violence, toward the suffering. We expect someone to be there when our world is falling apart. But a lot of times, when you think about it, how often do we really stop and think about what it costs them, the first responders and the police officers, to be there?”
Garza called for the community to remember and honor Resendez and other first responders who have given their lives while serving their communities.
He referenced the Gospel of John 12:24-26, which he’d read earlier in the Mass, in which Jesus speaks about His own sacrifice before His crucifixion.
“He also teaches us that a life given in love and in service is never ever a life that is wasted,” Garza said.
After the Mass, Valerie Garcia stood outside the church holding a large photo of Resendez, her uncle, who had previously sat near the altar during the service.
“This always means a lot,” Garcia said. “This is the third year that we’ve done this for him, and it’s just nice to see the community gather, seeing all the police department here and being here for our family. They haven’t left us since it happened. It’s just nice to have a sense of you know being together.”
She commended the San Benito Police Department for their continued support for her family and for her aunt, Melissa, since the day her uncle was killed.
“He was a great man,” she recalled. “He was always there for us. He was our favorite. It’s just nice to see and be around everybody and hear all the memories they have of him.”
After taking some pictures with the local law enforcement representatives in attendance at the Mass, Resendez’s wife reflected on the support she has received from them throughout the three years since her husband’s death.
“They’ve been such — I want to say — pillars to me,” she said. “They’ve given me strength. They’re just — they’ve never left my side. They’ve been so supportive. I just feel the love that they have for him and the respect they have for him.”
Standing outside the church, she smiled as she described her husband.
“My husband was the most caring, loving, gentle soul with a heart of gold.”
During Saturday’s Mass, San Benito Police Chief Mario Perea walked across the aisle and embraced Melissa in a hug during the Sign of Peace. Afterwards, he joined her and placed a bouquet of white flowers in front of a statue of La Virgen de Guadalupe.
“It’s important that we honor and remember him, and especially support the family every year that we do this,” Perea said. “It just brings comfort in knowing that we’re honoring him, we’re remembering his sacrifice, and it won’t be forgotten.”
He described Resendez as a very generous, “all-around good guy.” In the wake of his killer’s guilty verdict, he said that the trial opened a lot of wounds for his department, but he said that he was happy with the outcome of the trial.
“(Resendez) was always willing to help, very dependable, and I know he loved his community,” Perea said. “He served the city of San Benito and the citizens of San Benito for over 27 years. I know he loved this community. He gave his life protecting and serving his community.”