Our "Featured Fallen Hero" and "Photo of the Week" honors a True Fallen American Hero, Officer Yandy Chirino (1993 - 2021) of the Hollywood Police Department who sadly was shot and killed in Hollywood, Florida on his way to a 911 call regarding teenagers breaking into cars.
As reported by WPLG LOCAL 10 NEWS, "According to the chief, officers responded to the 4000th block of North Hills Drive around 10:30 p.m. Sunday after receiving reports about a suspicious person in the area. Neighbors say they noticed someone riding a bike going driveway to driveway, grabbing door handles of cars.
O’Brien said officers made contact with the suspect, Jason Banegas, 18, and Chirino was shot as the suspect fought against the officers."
(Photo Credit: DJ Gary of SONIK VIBE. Captured during Memorial Service of Officer Yandy Chirino)
We have traveled throughout the State of Florida in recent years attending and capturing the last moments of a number of Florida Fallen First Responders. Officer Chirino's Memorial Service, I must say, was one of the saddest, most memorable and attended memorials we have ever witnessed.
Indeed, it was an honor and privilege to have stood side-by-side Chirino's family, friends and comrades as they paid their last respects to "A True Fallen American Hero." Even though I had never met Officer Chirino, to this day it sadness me to know that he left his comrades and loving family behind so that you and I may sleep more peacefully at night.
When I embarked on a journey years ago to highlight (what I have coined) as "The Human Touch of First Responders and Unsung Heros" in our film project "AMERICAN EPISODES", I never imagined that journey would lead me to places where the outcry on the loss of life would be so profound. The sadness, love, respect, benevolence and honor of the men, women and children demonstrated who attended Chirino's memorial service was remarkable, an understatement, to say the least. It was a privilege and honor to have a “Captured-in-Reeltime” the last moments of Chirno’s Memorial.
As also reported by WPLG LOCAL 10 NEWS, Officer Chirino was not scheduled to work the day he was killed. As reported, "Hollywood [Police] Officer Yandy Chirino wasn’t scheduled to work on the day an 18-year-old burglary suspect killed him, police said. Chirino had called to see if his supervisor needed him on Sunday."
(Photo Credit: DJ Gary of SONIK VIBE. Captured during Memorial Service of Officer Yandy Chirino)
(Photo Credit: DJ Gary of SONIK VIBE. Captured during Memorial Service of Officer Yandy Chirino)Officer Chirino will be missed by his family, friends, comrades and the visitors and residents of Hollywood, Florida. "Thank you for your service. May you rest in peace."
- DJ Gary of SONIK VIBE
