Apache Junction Police struggling to cope with death of officer shot by road rage suspect

PHOENIX — The entire Apache Junction Police Department is rattled after officer Gabriel Facio died on Sunday from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

“He was just a good, caring man,” Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Monday.

“He was an immigrant that came from Mexico with the sole purpose of wanting to get his citizenship so he could become a police officer.”

Entire department mourns fallen Apache Junction officer

It took Gabriel Facio over 20 years to fulfill his dream of becoming a law enforcement officer. He was a pastor before he was a police officer.

“Everything he did was because he wanted to give service to this community, and that’s what he did,” Pooley said. “He lost his life doing that and gave everything for this community.”

Facio, a three-year veteran of the department, was injured by 36-year-old Roger Nunez in a shooting near Ironwood Drive and Ray Avenue last week.

“I know it’s something that my officers and my staff are devastated about, heartbroken,” he said. “I’ve had officers that were extremely upset, angry, officers that have been crying and some that just are silent. And every one of those emotions is okay and I let them know it’s okay.”

How police are mourning fallen Apache Junction officer

Mourning Facio after his passing is especially painful because police are still serving the community, Pooley said.

“Even though our officers are out there, answering calls, going to domestic violence calls, going to burglary calls, going to accidents, in the back of their mind, they’re thinking about their brother, their partner, officer Facio,” Pooley said.

The fallen Apache Junction officer will be honored in a Wednesday fundraiser hosted in partnership with the Mesa FOP Lodge 9 Charity Foundation and Scottsdale FOP Lodge 35.

It will last from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We’re hoping that the public can come out and support that and really show their support to Officer Facio’s family,” Pooley said. “Their loved one — their head of their household, family man — is taken, all they want to do is forgive.”

Related

Apache Junction officer shot in line of duty pronounced deadFallen Apache Junction officer was a Mexican immigrant, dreamt of servingApache Junction Police Department identifies police officer injured by gunfire“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie begs for “someone to come forward” in her mother’s disappearanceGreat Wolf Lodge looks to expand resort with additional towerMaricopa County Library District celebrates opening of new West Valley branch