AUSTIN, Texas — Community leaders came together Friday to say goodbye to Austin police officer Jorge "George" Pastore, who was shot and killed during a SWAT callout on Saturday morning.
APD Chaplain Rick Randall, Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson, and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson were among the many who honored Pastore during the ceremony at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
"He was our protector. A defender of our community. This man was a shield against fear and harm, wrongdoing and danger," Watson said. "He was a police officer."
Pastore started his career with APD in June 2019 before being commissioned as a police officer at the start of 2020. He also served as a paramedic and firefighter prior to moving to Austin.
"His dedication to our department, our community, and his teammates was second to none," Henderson said. "None. Pastore was always all in."
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"He had the heart and the spirit of a first responder, yeah, he was always responding first but also he put everyone else first," Mayor Kirk Watson said.
Henderson showed gratitude to Pastore for making the ultimate sacrifice by serving on the SWAT team.
"Thank you for being Pastore, first in, I am incredibly proud of you. We all love you and we will never forget you," Henderson said.
Raphael Rodriguez who has known Pastore since childhood credited Pastore for changing the trajectory of his life.
"He was my brother, he was my mentor, I would not be the man I am today if it wasn't for him," Rodriguez said.
Love, service and heroism is how Pastore's loved ones defined the life he led up until the very end.
"He put love into the world and that made it easy to send love right back to him," APD Chaplain Rick Randall said. "Jorge had a servant's heart."
Pastore is survived by his wife, stepchildren, and his parents, along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Those wishing to support the families of the officers affected in the wake of Pastore's death, and the deaths and injuries of other APD officers, can donate at austinc4c.com.
Law enforcement staging began in front of MoPac Expressway Service Road at FM 2222 around 7 a.m. for Pastore’s final patrol which began about an hour later from Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home before making its way to COTA.