Maritza Cruz
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| Third Watch Character | |
 |
|
| Maritza Cruz | |
|---|---|
| Portrayed by | Tia Texada |
| Job(s) | Anti-Crime Sergeant (season 4-6) |
| Important relationships | Maurice 'Bosco' Boscorelli |
| Current status | Single |
| Seasons | 4-6 |
Maritza Cruz is a fictional police officer in the TV series Third Watch portrayed by Tia Texada. She appeared in the last three seasons of the show.
Cruz is an Anti-Crime Sergeant with the fictional 55th Precinct of the NYPD. Cruz is often a renegade officer who does whatever it takes to get the job done. This is seen throughout her part in the series. This is proven during her commitment to duty which led her to being raped by a suspect during a stake out.
Her family history is unknown - her only relative was her sister, Letisha ("Lettie"). Lettie died of a drug overdose during a raid. At one point during her career; Cruz has a relationship with Bosco however this ends when Cruz shoots Faith Yokas in a hotel room during an illegal search. The shooting resulted in Faith being hospitalized and Cruz sent back to Patrol from Anti Crime.
Cruz came under the microscope of IAB several times; one of which ended up with her in prison for the murder of a suspect. However Faith, the real suspect, admitted to shooting a crime lord responsible for the murder of several 55th Precinct Officers (after gaining immunity from any punishment).
In the series finale, Cruz takes out a large street gang; during which she was killed after strapping two grenades to her body. Cruz was awarded the NYPD Medal of Honor. Her tomb was also shown in the last episode showing her birth and death date, which also gives the date of the attack against the 55th Precinct (the Camelot) May 5, 2005.
Maritza's death date, May 6th, 2005 is also the day, when the series finale was aired.[1]
