Off-duty Boynton Beach Police officer dies in car crash

Boynton Beach Police Officer Dennis Castro, a 14-year veteran of the department, died early Saturday morning from injuries sustained in a single-car accident, the department said. Castro was off duty at the time. The department declined to say where the accident occurred or release any other details about the crash.

Castro was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was a member of the SWAT Team, DUI Task Force and a traffic homicide investigator. He was honored numerous times as officer of the month, and in 2021 was voted officer of the year by the Palm Beach County Commission’s Victim Services and Certified Rape Crisis Center.

“Today is my toughest day as chief of police,” Chief Joe DeGiulio said Saturday. “Officer Castro’s service and commitment to the Boynton Beach Police Department and to the community we serve was truly remarkable."

Castro is survived by his wife and two children. No further information was available Saturday afternoon.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Off-duty Boynton Beach Police officer dies in car crash