Hundreds of San Diegans hung blue ribbons across one Chula Vista park Sunday in honor of fallen San Diego Police officer Jonathan DeGuzman.
San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officer Jonathan "JD" De Guzman, a 16-year veteran assigned to the Gang Unit, was shot and killed Thursday. His partner, Wade Irwin, was left seriously wounded but is expected to survive.
Members of the community came out to Heritage Park in Chula Vista's Otay Ranch neighborhood early Sunday, taking turns to shake officers' hands and tie blue ribbons to trees in the park and at local businesses nearby.
Residents across Chula Vista, Officer De Guzman's hometown, will also tie blue ribbons to their doors as they mourn the loss. De Guzman frequently came to the park and played with his kids.
Many who came out Sunday said the death hit them hard.
"I have a lot of friends and family who are in law enforcement, and this really touched the heart because its so close to home," Dolly De La Rosa said.
"He's a hero in our eyes," said De La Rosa.
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Some, like parent Lilia Muniz, said respect for law enforcement officers is a value she hopes to instill in her children today.
I believe and I should teach them that that's probably the only way we could come out of this tragedy," she said.
Her children are classmates with De Guzman's daughter.
"We were just heartbroken, and I had to figure out how to tell them that this had happened to one of their friends," she said.
Chula Vista Police Chief David Bejarano and Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas both attended the event, along with many other local law enforcement officers.
Mariam Byron, a Chula Vista Police Department officer, said she wanted to come out Sunday to show her solidarity.
"We’re obviously hurting for the San Diego Police Department's loss, the loss of officer De Guzman," Byron said. "It's very sad and tough times right now. so just want to show our solidarity and our support for Officer De Guzman and his family and for our San Diego PD brothers and sisters."
Chief Bejarano, who attended the ribbon tying, said hearing about De Guzman was especially difficult for him. When he was San Diego Police Chief, he presented De Guzman with his badge in October 2000.
"We’ll get through this all together, but it really breaks your heart, to say the least," Bejarano said.
With heavy hearts, community members spent the morning wrapping a symbol of respect around each tree.
"I think it helps all of us as far as starting the healing process," Bejarano said.
