The memorial honoring the five slain officers on display at Woodrow Wilson High School.
East Dallas was in shock in the wake of the shooting of 14 police officers and two civilians in downtown Dallas last week, but has responded with love, condolences and support in the face of hatred. Officer Patrick Zamarripa, one of the five killed in the ambush, was the step-son of 1984 Woodrow Wilson High School graduate Maria “Rosie” Saldana Zamarripa.
Patrick Zamarripa
Officer Zamarripa was a Navy veteran who survived three tours of duty in Iraq before becoming a police officer in Dallas. He had recently moved to bicycle patrol in downtown Dallas, which he enjoyed, according to the Washington Post.
Rosie graduated from Wilson but helped raise her step-son, who is the father of a 2-year-old girl named Lyncoln, in Saginaw, Texas. In response to a thread asking for prayers for the family on the Woodrow Wilson Alumni Association Facebook page, Rosie commented [sic], “I don’t even know where to begin to thank you. This is my first time seeing this post and I’m crying happy and sad tears. All the love and support that we’ve received has been completely overwhelming. Thank you so very much from the bottom of our hearts. My husband Rick and I and family will never forget your kindness and love for us. THAT’S MY WOODROW!!!! Class of 1984!!”
Support for the family can be found all over East Dallas. A memorial has been set up in front of Woodrow Wilson High School, honoring the five slain officers.
The owner of the Refined Fit gym on Lower Greenville, Garret Guzman, is the step-cousin of Offcier Zamarripa. To help support the family, he will be offering a donations-only fitness class this Saturday at the gym (3612 Greenville) at 10 a.m. All donations will go into an established trust fund for Zamarripa’s 2-year-old daughter.
A gofundme site has been set up to support the family. There will be a Rosary for Officer Zamarripa at the Wilkerson Greines Athletic Center in Fort Worth (5201 C.A. Roberson Blvd.) this today, July 15, at 5 p.m. and a funeral service at the same location at 11 a.m. on July 16.
