Memorial Services, Fund for Slain San Diego Police Officer Announced

SAN DIEGO, CA — Funeral arrangements for slain San Diego Police Officer Jonathan "JD" DeGuzman were announced Sunday, including a funeral Mass in Bonita on Thursday and a public memorial service in El Cajon on Friday.

The San Diego Police Officers Association said the plans are tentative. The Mass will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, located at 450 Corral Canyon Road in Bonita. The public is invited.

A public memorial service for law enforcement and community members is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Shadow Mountain Community Church at 2100 Greenfield Dr. in El Cajon.

A procession to DeGuzman's interment at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita will follow the Friday memorial service. Glen Abbey Memorial Park is located at 3838 Bonita Road.

Law enforcement personnel is scheduled to stage at the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot in Mission Valley for a 9 a.m. departure to the El Cajon memorial service.

DeGuzman and Officer Wade Irwin were allegedly shot by Jesse Michael Gomez, 52, late Thursday night in Southcrest as they attempted a field stop. Gomez was in critical condition from gunshots he received during a brief gun battle, according to police.

Patrol officers responding to the gang officers' emergency call for backup found them suffering from gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. DeGuzman, 43, and Irwin, 32, were rushed to hospitals. DeGuzman, a 16-year SDPD veteran, was pronounced dead later in the night.

Irwin, who has been with the department for nine years, underwent surgery Friday and was recovering at UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest. He is expected to make a full recovery and is anxious to get back on the job, according to Chief Shelley Zimmerman.

The SDPOA has established a fund for DeGuzman's family. Checks made payable to the organization, with "Officer Jonathan DeGuzman" in the memo line, can be sent to the SDPOA's offices at 8388 Vickers St., San Diego, CA 92111.

Donations also can be made online at Sdpoa.org/about-widows-orphans-fund and directed specifically to the DeGuzman fund.

The president of the San Diego Police Officers Association said Sunday that 100 percent of the fund created in the name of DeGuzman will be given to his family, while warning potential donors of the possibility of scams.

"Supporting this fund is the way to ensure that 100 percent of your contribution will be dedicated to supporting the family of Jonathan DeGuzman during this difficult time,'' said Brian Marvel, president of the SDPOA. "We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and reassuring words from the community and want to do everything we can to bring comfort to Officer DeGuzman's family.''

Marvel also cautioned well-wishers.

"Unfortunately, during times of tragedies such as this, scammers and imitators often try to take advantage of the public's generosity and create funds that aren't entirely dedicated to the effort to support the family,'' he
said. "We want to ensure people are aware that our fund is completely dedicated to assisting DeGuzman's family.''

— City News Service