Although most of my posts in this blog are about my weekday, lunchtime bike rides around the city, with an occasional weekend or holiday excursion to local and regional parks in the greater metropolitan area, for this post I ventured out to an evening event on a weekday.
Last night I stood, along with the local community, to pay my respects and honor Prince William County Police Officer Ashley Guindon. Officer Guindon was killed in the line of duty, and two other officers – Jesse Hempen and David McKeown, were shot and wounded when they responded to a domestic violence call this past Saturday. It was her first day on the job, having been sworn in just the day before. So last night, as dozens upon dozens of police motorcycles and cruisers with red-and-blue flashing lights lit up the darkness, we “lined the route” as Officer Guindon’s body was taken to the Hylton Memorial Chapel, located at 14640 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge (MAP). A viewing will take place at the chapel beginning at 10:00am today, and it is open to the public. The public is also invited to the funeral service beginning at noon, but it should be known that priority will be given to law enforcement and government officials if space becomes an issue.
Police are warning people not to donate to GoFundMe pages that purport to be raising money for Guindon’s family. It has been determined that at least one fraudulent page was set up in the Officer Guindon’s name. The Prince William County Police Association has created an official memorial fund, with all donations going directly to Officer Guindon’s family. Anyone who wishes to donate can leave their donation at any county police station or mail it directly to the police association at: Prince William County Police Association, Officer Guindon Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 1845, Manassas, VA 20108.
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