Heavy emotions filled the newly named Officer Austin Machitar Memorial Park in Clairemont on Sunday, as Chris Machitar, Officer Machitar’s father, lovingly recounted a story about his son. Strong, resilient, and always willing to help others with a smile on his face. Those are just some of the ways Chris described his child.

“It would put me in check, like hey I need to be smiling just like my son,” said Machitar. “We called him Austy, that was our Austy,” he added.

Officer Machitar died the night of August 26, 2024. He was 30 years-old. He and his partner, officer Zachary Martinez, had their patrol car broadsided by a 16 year-old driver along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Their patrol cruiser went up in flames. Machitar and the teen driver died. Martinez survived with serious injuries.

“I remember waking up in the hospital and my first concern was actually I need to call Austin, because in my mind I didn’t even make it to work yet that day,” said Martinez. “I thought maybe something had happened before work and when they told me that he had passed — it was my mom who had told me that he had passed — it was tough,” Martinez added.

More than a year after the tragedy, Martinez doesn’t remember what happened that night. What he will remember, however, is the impact that Machitar had on him and the community he served. Martinez wants to carry Machitar’s legacy forward, and hopes that people will remember his positivity and dedication to helping others.

“What good would I be if I didn’t take what Austin taught me, and not put it into practice and just give up on it and walk away from it,” said Martinez. “I could tell you right now I’m sure there was multiple times I could’ve turned my back on this job, walked away and said that’s enough. But what good does that do? It doesn’t show, and it doesn’t emulate what Austin taught me, and I was able to project onto the community,” Martinez added.

San Diego city leaders, including Mayor Todd Gloria, City Council President Joe LaCava, and San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl were in attendance for the ceremony to unveil the new park sign bearing Machitar’s name. Multiple members of law enforcement, many of whom knew Machitar, were also among the crowd.

Earlier this year, Mayor Gloria had proposed and won unanimous approval of the City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Board for the renaming of the park, according to the city.

Machitar was overcome with emotions by the outpouring of support. He hopes that when people come to the park, they gaze upon the sign and remember his son for the person he was.

“Good times, bad times, he would’ve been there and he would’ve helped you because that’s just how his heart was,” said Machitar. “I’m so happy to have been his father,” he added.

The park, originally named the North Clairemont Community Park, was chosen because Machitar served the Clairemont community as a police officer. It’s also the very same neighborhood that he grew up in.

“When people come to this park, just come play. Have a good time,” said Machitar.