Officer Cristina Coria started her career in law enforcement at the age of 14. She was a Santa Monica police explorer, police cadet, parking enforcement officer, community service officer, Santa Monica College Police Officer and then Santa Monica Police Officer. She also worked as an instructor at the El Camino College Reserve Police Academy. While working for the Santa Monica Police Department she worked various assignments. Coria worked as a bike officer, gang officer, narcotics/vice investigator, crisis negotiator, Explorer officer and school resource officer.
On July 4th, 2000, Officer Coria sustained a career ending injury to her left arm after being shot by a murder suspect during a hostage standoff which occurred on the Santa Monica Pier. She sustained severe bone and nerve damage to her left humerus and radius. Initially she was told by doctors that she might lose her arm. After extensive reconstructive surgery the doctors managed to save her arm but told her she would never be able to have full use of her arm again nor go back to work. Her left arm was placed in a plastic/metal splint that had rubber band cranes to open her fingers since she was partially paralyzed in her hand.
Additionally, Officer Coria suffered severe injuries stemming from an incident in 1996 whereby Officer Coria was struck by a DUI motorist. Officer Coria suffered pelvic and knee injuries as well as injuries to her neck and back areas.
Officer Coria suffers from pain on a daily basis and is still seeing doctors for all of her injured body parts. Officer Coria has joined the Violently Injured Police Officers organization and now advocates for injured officers as well as trying to help change laws and worker compensation issues.