Family, friends and law enforcement officers from throughout Maryland gathered Saturday morning to celebrate the life of Maryland Parole and Probation Agent Davis Martinez, who was brutally killed in the line of duty May 31.
“You were the eye of my storm. You were the peace in my chaos,” said Martinez’s girlfriend, Gypsy Barrientos, adding that Davis, who she had only met six months ago, “made everything better.”
Martinez, 33, who lived in Silver Spring and had graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 2009, went to the Chevy Chase home of Emanuel Edward Sewell, a registered sex offender as part of his responsibilities.
Sewell has been charged in the killing of Martinez and then wrapping him in multiple plastic bags.
The three highest ranking Maryland officials attended Martinez’s funeral at the Living Word International Christian Church in Silver Spring. Gov. Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller and Secretary of State Susan Lee all paid their respects.
“He loved his family, and he loved his community, and he sacrificed for all,” Moore said, calling Martinez “a remarkable public servant” and “a man who saw beauty in everything.”
Added Moore, “We have to commit in everything we do to continue to work to see that something like this should never and will never happen.”
Moore handed a Maryland state flag that flew over the state house in Annapolis to Martinez’s mother, Blanca. The Governor began and ended his speech in Spanish in respect for Martinez’s Salvadorean roots.
According to Rev. Deborah Scott, who officiated both in word and song, Martinez “lived his life to the fullest.” She added, “Davis was a rare treasure that was taken away in a horrid way.”
He loved being a parole officer, Scott said. “He found his vocation. He found his passion, and he was great at what he did.”
Parole Agent Davis Martinez, who was brutally killed in the line of duty, was remembered by his girlfriend, brother and coworkers Saturday @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/eIjDKLD53l
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) June 22, 2024
Martinez’s girlfriend recalled how they were matched on Tinder on Jan. 4 and by Jan. 12 “we were both terrified at how quickly we fell for each other.”
Martinez’s younger brother, Michael Garcia, recalled how “we spent practically our entire life together.” He used three words to describe his brother – ambition, reassurance and belonging.
Jason Jones, who worked with Martinez in the Division of Parole and Probation, said, “You name it, Davis was your guy” who always helped others. “Davis made your problem, his problem.”
Even his clients liked him, many of whom have said that Martinez helped them become better returning citizen.
Also speaking at the funeral was Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Director Carolyn Scruggs, who noted, “We have lost a member of our family.”
Martinez was the first in his family to graduate college. He was a caregiver for his father, Jose, who died 11 months ago. He had moved in with his mother and two brothers to help the family.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice at the University of Maryland and graduated the Police and Correctional Training Academy in 2018.
Martinez was a six-year employee of the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services. He is the first Maryland Division of Parole and Probation agent in the state to be killed by a client while on duty.
He loved soccer and rooted for the German team, Bayern Munich. He liked anime and also enjoyed the outdoors. He was an avid hiker who cooked a delicious penne pasta.
He also loved his bright yellow Jeep, and in a show of kindness, several people placed rubber ducks on his jeep as they entered the church. That jeep, in which Barrientos rode, joined the procession to the cemetery led by dozens of law enforcement officers on motorcycles.
