Officer Michael E. Garbarino's SIG Pistol

This Sig P226 semi-automatic pistol was owned by Fairfax County Master Police Officer Michael E. Garbarino. Officer Garbarino was 53 years old in 2006 when a suspect opened fire on him and other officers in the parking lot of the Sully District Station. He had served 23 years on the force.

On May 17, 2006, Master Police Officer Michael E. Garbarino, a 23-year veteran of Fairfax County Police, passed away due to complications from his injuries received on May 8, 2006. Officer Garbarino was known for his infectious energy and friendly personality. He grew up in Wanaque, NJ, and became a police officer at William Paterson College in 1981. Fairfax County later hired him in 1983. He soon moved up to Police Officer first class when he was promoted in 1986.

 

In 1995, he became a Master Police Officer. During his years on the department, he was a two-time recipient of the Officer of the Year award. He received two meritorious service awards in 1986, and was a field training instructor for newly assigned officers. Garbarino was a popular school resource officer at Marshall, Langley, and Pimmitt Hills alternative high schools. On May 8, at approximately 3:30 P.M., during a shift change, an 18-year-old male drove a van that he had just stolen, into the rear parking lot of the Sully District Station, exited the vehicle, and opened fire with a rifle on Master Police Officer Michael Garbarino, who was sitting in his patrol car, striking him five times. The suspect also opened fire on Detective Vicky Armel, fatally wounding her.

 

Despite being critically wounded, Officer Garbarino was able to get on his patrol car's radio and tell fellow officers not to exit the back of the police station. Officer Garbarino continued to give updates as to the suspect's location in the parking lot who was now engaging other officers in gunfire with both rifles and pistols. During a lull in the shooting, fellow officers were able to rescue Officer Garbarino from the parking lot and transport him to the police helicopter for medevac to the local trauma center. All during the rescue and medevac, Officer Garbarino kept telling the officers to "KEEP UP THE FIGHT."

 

In the aftermath, a female detective was killed. Master Police Officer Garbarino was fighting for his life, and the suspect had been shot and killed by police. In total, the male suspect fired 70 rounds from seven different weapons at officers that day. Because of Officer Garbarino's quick action of getting on the radio and telling fellow officers not to exit the rear of the police station, he saved countless numbers of other officer's lives that day. Master Police Officer Michael Garbarino was a devoted Christian, loving husband and father, and a member of the National Rifle Association.