Carlos Nieto (Third Watch Character) - Maritza Cruz

Maritza Cruz is a fictional police officer on the television 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.

Her family history is unknown - her only relative was her sister, Leticia ("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 Faith Yokas and Cruz shoot each other in self-defense 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 killer, 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 pulling the pins on two grenades whilst claiming that this was her plan against the new gang leader, Marcel Hollis. Whether this act was connected to her having also been diagnosed with terminal Leukaemia is not explored. Cruz was awarded the NYPD Medal of Honor and posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Her tombstone 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 6, 2005, is also the day when the series finale was aired.