Vandalism destroys new sign renaming Clairemont park after fallen San Diego police officer

Days after a Clairemont park was renamed after fallen San Diego police Officer Austin Machitar, a newly installed sign memorializing the change was destroyed by vandalism.

The estimated $100,000 in damage to the sign and other areas of the park was discovered Thursday morning at what was once known as North Clairemont Park on Bannock Avenue, sparking a criminal investigation.

The concrete memorial and marquee signs sustained graffiti and other damage, and sidewalks and the recreation center were also marked by graffiti, police said. Stones were removed near the memorial sign, and plants and trees were also damaged.

Police said the memorial sign is considered a total loss and will need to be replaced.

“This was more than vandalism — it was disrespect to the officers who protect this city,” Police Chief Scott Wahl said in a statement. “Too much rhetoric today aims to divide police from the communities we serve. We know this does not reflect the values of the broader San Diego community, and we ask our residents to continue showing the support that outshines this kind of negativity toward our officers who serve with courage and professionalism every day.”

On Sunday, more than 200 people gathered at the park to celebrate the unveiling of the sign, which declares the city space to be Officer Austin Machitar Memorial Park. It was a place where Machitar often patrolled before he was killed in an on-duty crash on Aug. 26, 2024.

Machitar, 30, was responding to a pursuit already in progress when the fleeing teenage driver struck the patrol vehicle. Machitar, who was driving, was killed, and his partner was seriously injured. The teen driver also died.

“I am furious that just days after we came together as a community to honor Officer Austin Machitar — a man who gave his life in service to this city — someone chose to vandalize and desecrate the memorial to this hero,” Mayor Todd Gloria said in a statement.

The San Diego Police Officers Association donated the funds for the new signage and park updates.

“The San Diego Police Officers Association will work tirelessly to replace what was lost today and ensure that Austin’s memory is not tarnished without punishment,” said Lt. Jared Wilson, president of the police union.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the San Diego Police Department at 619-531-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.