Pasadena Police Officers Will Skydive for Veteran Suicide Awareness

Corporal Joaquin Gurrola poses for a picture at the Pasadena police heliport on Wednesday, October 9, 2019. Corporal Gurrola is a retired marine who did 2 tours in Iraq, now spends his post-military years providing support for veterans. He will take part in a skydiving fundraising event to help raise money for mental health awareness for veterans. Photo by James Carbone

When it comes to managing self-care, Pasadena Police Corporal Joaquin Gurrola considers all the different parts, which can affect a person.

In order to handle his own stress, Gurrola goes for runs, seeks quiet in the ocean while he surfs or he spends time with his family.

For him, staying balanced is about —mind, body and spirit.

Gurrola, a retired Marine, who did two tours in Iraq and lived through a war that he describes as “everything beyond what you think you’ve seen on TV, but in reality” is well-aware that self-care isn’t just a buzz word.

For him, it’s how he lives his life to help with the emotions that come from 22 years in the military and fighting in two wars.

“When I first got word that I was being deployed (out to Iraq), I remember thinking that I didn’t want to come back with PTSD,” said Gurrola, who has been with Pasadena Police Department for 14 years. “But what I’ve realized is that not all veterans are broken. Some of us are the most prominent people in society and do great things, because we are strong. And we learn to overcome.”

Part of Gurrola’s work-life balance is also in the act of giving back to veterans. He is part of the Pasadena Police Department’s Peer Program, and acts as the Military liaison which gives police officers and veterans a place to talk or seek assistance if needed.

This coming November Gurrola along with Pasadena Police Officers and military veterans Stephanie Lack and Edwin Dumaguindin will skydive with Operation Jump 22 for Merging Vets and Players (MVP) to raise money and bring awareness to veterans and suicide.

The event Go Jump Oceanside will be held on Saturday, November 2nd and Gurrola, Lack and Dumaguindin will jump 13,000 feet out of an airplane to raise money for their jump, but also to donate to MVP whose mission is to create programs for military veteran suicide prevention programs.

“Having a group of people to talk with is important,” said Gurrola. “This is where you realize that PTSD, isn’t a disorder. It’s a temporary syndrome that can happen to anyone that goes through a traumatic event. You just have to focus on mind, body and spirit to overcome it”

Gurrola, Lack and Dumaguindin will continue to raise funds for Operation Jump 22 from now through November 2nd. For more details, please go to the individual pages created:

To donate, please go to: