Father of San Diego police officer injured in Clairemont crash speaks out – NBC 7 San Diego

The father of a San Diego police officer fighting for his life after a serious crash in Clairemont earlier this week told NBC 7 on Wednesday that his son is a hero and has dedicated his life to serving the nation.

Officer Zachary Martinez has helped serve and protect San Diego for the past year and a half.

“He was born and raised for service. He is an emergency medical technician. He cares about helping people,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said during a press conference Tuesday evening.

Martinez's journey to the police began in 2014. During his high school years, he participated in the Explorer Program of the Lubbock Police Department in Texas.

Officer Brinnen Kent, Martinez's former instructor, described Martinez as a smart competitor who helped the researchers win leadership and other awards.

Because Martinez was unable to join the San Diego Police Department until he was 21, he joined the Navy's military police at 18, according to Kent.

Kent says when they spoke last week, Martinez talked about how excited he was to serve in San Diego.

“Zach knew from a young age that he wanted to be a police officer and he made that happen. It's pretty incredible that he has a heartfelt desire to serve,” Kent said.

Martinez, now 27, was injured and his partner, Officer Austin Machitar, was killed Monday night while rushing to a police chase involving a BMW driven by a 16-year-old, county officials said. Investigators say the BMW crashed into their patrol car on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

Darrell Watson coached Machitar's Chula Vista Little League team.

“He was a great kid. We loved everything about him,” Watson said.

As the investigation continues into a fire crash in Clairemont that killed San Diego police officer Austin Machitar and seriously injured another person, family members are gathering at the scene to share their memories of him. NBC 7's Shelby Bremer spoke with people who knew him about his commitment to his community.

Watson says public service is in Machitar's blood, figuratively and literally, from his father, a retired deputy sheriff, to his time as a poster boy for San Diego police recruitment in videos and fliers.

“His career speaks for itself. Everything he has done speaks volumes,” Watson said.

Preparations for the funeral and memorial service for Machitar are still ongoing.

Wahl says the department is optimistic that Martinez will survive, but that he still has a long road to recovery ahead of him.