More than $14,000 had been raised as of Monday morning to help with recovery and related family expenses for a San Diego Police Department gang suppression officer who was wounded in a shooting that killed his partner.
San Diego police Officer Wade Irwin has been hospitalized since he and fellow lawman Jonathan "J.D." De Guzman were shot in the Southcrest neighborhood late Thursday night.
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Irwin, who had been a San Diego officer for nine years, and De Guzman, a 16-year SDPD veteran, were conducting a field stop on Acacia Grove Way when they became involved in a brief gun battle. The suspect, 52-year-old Jesse Michael Gomez, was critically wounded in the shootout.
De Guzman, 43, died at Scripps Mercy Hospital later that night. Irwin, 32, underwent surgery at UC San Diego Medical Center and is expected to make a full recovery, according to the SDPD.
The married father of a 19-month-old child is anxious to get back on the job, San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said.
The chief described him as "so dedicated" and characterized him as a man who "cares so deeply for his family, cares so deeply for our community and (who) went out there every single night, wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of our community members."
According to a statement on the gofundme.com page, Irwin has been "fighting to get better every day." His wife has been by his bedside, as have his siblings.
"It will be a long road to recovery even after the physical wounds heal," the statement said.
Donations to aid in Irwin's recovery expenses can be made at gofundme.com/irwinfamilyfund.
The San Diego Police Officers Association is collecting money for De Guzman's family. Donations for that fund can be mailed to: San Diego Police Officers Association, 8388 Vickers St., San Diego, CA 92111, or via its website sdpoa.org/about-widows-orphans-fund/.
SDPOA officials asked donors to include "Officer Jonathan De Guzman" in the notes of the online donation or on the memo line of their check.
