Park gets renamed after fallen San Diego Police Officer Austin Machitar
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- On Sunday, a dedication ceremony will be held at a community park in Clairemont in honor of San Diego Police Officer Austin Machitar, who died in the line of duty in August of last year.
On Aug. 26, 2024, Machitar, 30, was killed in a crash following a high-speed pursuit of a suspect who had been driving down Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. The crash happened just after 11:30 p.m. in the area of 5200 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
The pursuit suspect was also killed in the crash, while Machitar's partner, Officer Zach Martinez, 27, was critically injured.
At 10 a.m. on Sunday, family, friends and the community will gather at North Clairemont Community Park, located at 4421 Bannock Ave., which will be renamed to Officer Austin Machitar Memorial Park.
Guests who are expected to attend the ceremony include Machitar's family, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Chief of Police Scott Wahl and other elected officials and law enforcement personnel.
Martinez, Machitar's partner who was in the vehicle with him the night of the crash, will also be in attendance.
The North Clairemont Community Park was chosen to be named after Machitar because of its proximity to where he served and the deep ties he had to the Clairemont neighborhood, the city said.
