Memorial ceremony and procession for fallen SDPD officer Austin Machitar

SAN DIEGO – The funeral service and cortege for the late San Diego police officer Austin Machitar are scheduled for Saturday morning, Sept. 21.

Family, friends and San Diego Police will mourn the loss of Machitar with a public procession beginning at Snapdragon Stadium and ending at Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon.

The memorial service for Machitar begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and will be streamed live on the Shadow Mountain Church website.

You can follow the memorial service live here.

Officer Machitar was killed on August 26 when a suspect involved in an earlier chase crashed into his police SUV. The other officer in the vehicle, Zachary Martinez, suffered burns, a broken neck and other serious injuries in the crash.

Machitar was 30 years old and had been with the police for five and a half years, working in the city's Northern Division. He had an infectious smile and was passionate about serving his community, following in his father's footsteps.

“He’s the guy you wanted on your team,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.

“His father was a retired deputy sheriff, so he dedicated his life to public service, and we will not forget that,” said San Diego Police Officers Association President Jared Wilson.

California Governor Gavin Newsom paid tribute to Machitar and Martinez in a statement that said, in part, “Jennifer and I are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Officer Machitar. His family, friends and colleagues at the San Diego Police Department are in our hearts during this difficult time. Our thoughts are also with his colleague who was seriously injured.”

Machitar, who leaves behind his parents and sister, grew up in Chula Vista and attended Otay Ranch High School, where he excelled in baseball.

The San Diego Police Officers Association has set up a way to help the officers. Funds will go to the SDPOA Foundation, which directly helps officers in times of need. Funds raised now will go to the deceased officer's family and to the second officer.

Click here for more information and to donate.

SEE ALSO: San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl speaks about the crash that killed Officer Austin Machitar