Officers Leslie Macarro, 52, and Arthur “Smokey” Perez, Youth Training School Transportation Officers, transported three Youth Authority inmates to Los Angeles General Hospital on Friday, May 20, 1988.

While attempting to depart the hospital, a 19-year-old inmate, incarcerated for murder, bolted from the officers while in full restraint. Macarro immediately began a foot pursuit and was struck by a car driven by a civilian hospital employee. He died an hour later inside the hospital.

The escapee was immediately captured by Officer Perez.

Macarro was born on May 9, 1936, in San Bernardino. He was a 24-year resident of Colton. He was a member of the Temecula Band of Luiseno Mission Indians from Pechanga Reservation. His wife, Martha, is a native of Colton and an employee with the City of Colton, in the city clerk’s office. They have four children: Mark, Paul, John and Caroline.

Macarro graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1954. From 1954 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Army with the 1st Infantry Division, as a military policeman stationed in South Korea. In 1974, Macarro began working with Youth Training School in Chino. For two years, he worked as a landscape/groundsman. He attended San Bernardino Valley College to qualify for the Group Supervisor position, in which capacity he began in 1976.

In 1983, Macarro’s hard work was recognized when he was presented with a plaque “In appreciation for (his) most outstanding performance at the Youth Training School.”

Macarro enjoyed frequent weekend trips to San Diego with his wife and close friends. A former barber, Macarro considered barbering a creative outlet and was always happy to give his sons haircuts. He enjoyed fishing trips and movie classics – “Sgt. York” was his favorite. He is remembered as a very loving, patient and giving father, and strong in his Catholic faith. Macarro’s smile and dimples will be remembered by all his family, friends and colleagues.