Austin Machitar

A Ballplayer. A Protector. A Friend.

Austin Christopher Machitar was born on July 26, 1994 in San Diego, California, to Christopher and Leslie Machitar, joining older sister Asia. A San Diegan his whole life, Austin loved entertaining his family and friends and was a caretaker, protector, and guardian to everyone around him. He stayed active surfing, snowboarding, working out, and riding his dirt bike in the desert, and was happiest at the beach watching the waves, grabbing food and an iced coffee, and listening to music with the people he loved.

An accomplished tennis player — a talent inherited from his mother Leslie, of the famed Redondo tennis family — Austin grew up with a love for baseball. He played at Parkview Little League and travel ball for the Chula Vista Gorillas and the Hustle, went on to play at Otay Ranch High School, and finished his baseball career at Southwestern College.

After graduating high school in 2012, Austin studied Administration of Justice and Criminology at Southwestern College, driven by a passion for law enforcement and a desire to follow in the footsteps of his father Christopher, a retired Sergeant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. In 2019 he was recruited by the San Diego Police Department, completing California POST training at the San Diego Regional Public Safety Training Institute at Miramar College. He served three years on patrol before being selected as a Field Training Officer (FTO), giving 5.5 years of service to the department.

An officer with the highest integrity, the brightest smile, and a strong commitment to serve and protect his community.