HOUSTON - Officials say a Houston police officer drowned in the Harvey flood waters while inside his patrol car over the weekend. 

According to a report from the Houston Chronicle, the HPD veteran of more than 30 years was driving to work downtown Sunday morning when he became trapped in high water.

The Houston Police Department later identified the officer as Sergeant Steve Perez, a 34-year-veteran of the police force.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the tragic in the line of duty death of Sergeant Steve Perez. pic.twitter.com/cHJxjnFgII

— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) August 29, 2017

"He was trying different routes, and took a wrong turn," one high-ranking official told the Chronicle, asking not to be identified.

After getting trapped in high water, Perez tried to get out but was unable to.

The officer's death is the fifteenth fatality in Texas claimed by Harvey or the rains it spawned after making landfall.