BONITA, Calif. (KGTV) - Several members of the San Diego Police Department were there as the daughter of fallen officer Jonathan De Guzman graduated from elementary school Thursday.
Amira De Guzman was one of hundreds of Heritage Elementary School sixth graders at the ceremony at the Bonita Valley Community Church. As the student council president, she stood before the crowd during the ceremony to give a speech.
She told her fellow graduates: "I wish the student body good luck on our future academic endeavors. Thank you!"
A large number of proud family members and friends were there for their students, but Amira's support system on this special day did not just include her immediate family.
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Members of Amira's SDPD family were at the event to cheer her on. The officers refer to themselves as Amira's aunts and uncles now.
SDPD Sgt. Al Ambito told 10News, "[I'm a] very proud uncle. That's what we're her for, to make sure the family feels that we are here to support them and we are always here for them."
As for Ambito's friend, Amira's father, he said, "I'm sure he's smiling down on us right now."
Amira was thankful for her police family, who have been there for the De Guzmans since Officer De Guzman was killed in the line of duty.
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"I feel really happy that my family has expanded at the same time where it decreased, because I know that everyone is just supporting me and my mom and my brother, so I just want to thank them all for being so supportive," she said.
Amira is moving on from elementary school to seventh grade at Rancho del Rey Middle School.
Her older brother, Jed, is graduating high school in a ceremony Thursday afternoon.
