Wedding of fallen Officer Gabriel Facio’s daughter — Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley appears on the right. [AJPD]
Officer Gabriel Facio was killed in the line of duty earlier this year, and both his family and the Apache Junction Police Department continue to heal with the community’s support.
The following is a message from Police Chief Michael Pooley providing an update on their progress.
As you may know, one of our police officers, Officer Gabriel Facio, was killed in the line of duty in early June of this year. Many of you, people from all over our Apache Junction community and others from surrounding communities, came out to support Officer Facio’s family and our police department during this most difficult time. I want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and donations to his family.
I also wanted to provide an update on a few things. Our department is healing, and although this brought us to our knees, we are healing, and we feel the love and support of the community.
I also want to provide an update on Officer Gabriel Facio’s family. They are also healing and continuing to move forward. Although they feel an emptiness in their hearts without their husband, father, son, brother, and friend, they have a lot to be grateful for. This past weekend, Officer Facio’s daughter got married, and I had the honor of attending and being part of the wedding party. It was a very moving ceremony, and Officer Facio’s presence could be felt all around us as we witnessed the marriage of this beautiful couple.
The wedding was perfect, and as I sat there thinking about this new couple starting their lives together, I felt a warmth that Gabriel is watching over them more now than ever before. Being the father of three daughters whom I love more than anything, my heart filled with emotion as I saw her walk down the aisle and pass the empty chair where her father’s photo was displayed, with his police jacket hugging the chair. It was an emotional day, but it was a day that will always be remembered as joyous and beautiful.
I spent the weekend with the Facio family, and many tears were shed as many happy memories were shared and new memories were made. The entire Facio family expressed how grateful they were for our Apache Junction community and the surrounding communities.
Officer Facio’s wife and daughter asked that I share this experience with our community and update on how they are doing because they feel part of our community now and forever.
On behalf of the men and women of the Apache Junction Police Department, thank you. On behalf of the Facio Family, they say thank you as well.
