A ceremony was held on Wednesday by the San Diego Police Department to honor the legacies of the dozens of officers who have passed away while serving with the agency over the course of its 136-year history. The ceremony included a special tribute for one officer who passed away during the summer of last year.
The annual remembrance service was held at the department’s memorial roster of officers who were killed in the line of duty. As part of the ceremony, the name of Austin Machitar, who was killed on August 26 in a traffic accident at the age of 30 while assisting with a high-speed pursuit in Clairemont, was revealed on the somber granite plaque that is located outside the headquarters of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) in the downtown area.
At the time of his passing, Machitar had been employed by the department for a period of time that exceeded five years. Additionally, a park in North Clairemont will be renamed in his place of honor.
According to officials from the department, the event that took place at midday also included a ceremony in which a wreath was laid down and 37 peals of a bell. Each peal was performed once for each of the 35 men and two women who had passed away while working for the city’s police force between the years 1913 and 2024.
Officer Austin Machitar’s life and dedicated service were highlighted by the San Diego Police Department during a memorial service that was held in honor of those who had passed away while serving their country. During the summer of 2017, he was responding to a high-speed chase when he was involved in an accident that resulted in his death.
“This article was written by Mathew Owen. AI tools were used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.”
