We want to thank the entire city of Fairfield for the amazing outpouring of love and support. The mayor, City Council, city manager, the Police and Fire departments and the entire staff have done everything the way our son, Matt Garcia, would have wanted.

Keep the Dream Alive! It's hard to miss Matt Garcia's smiling face and that tag line on posters, T-shirts and buttons throughout Solano County. More than 3,000 of Matt's closest friends gathered with that motto in mind this month to mourn the senseless death of our young city councilman and community rising star. I had the privilege of officiating at his funeral service, a celebration of Matt's life and a community commitment after his death.

I first met Matt Garciawhen he came to Fairfield High School to speak to the Latino Club. As a senior I was inspired by hearing him speak that I raised my hand to ask, 'Are you hiring?'

We want to thank the entire city of Fairfield for your amazing outpouring of love and support. The mayor, City Council, city manager, the police and fire departments and the entire staff have done everything the way Matt would have wanted.

There are heroes among us, Matt Garcia being one of them.

There are heroes among us, Matt Garcia being one of them. He aspired to be more than his environment; he wanted to make changes for himself and for the future of others to come. He had hope, drive and vision. In his My Space blog entry dated Aug. 27, there is a sentence that reads: "Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day."

I wish to express my sympathy first to Matt's parents, sister, grandmother and all relatives who loved this young man to the fullest.

As a former Fairfield resident who spent 22 of my 29 years there, I was devastated and heartbroken to hear of the tragic loss of Matt Garcia.

The death of Matt Garcia will no doubt bring much emotional response. There are times when I wish we lived in the 'old west' when we could 'post' undesirables outside the city limits.

For those of you who didn't really know who Matt Garcia was or what he sought to accomplish as one of our city's councilmen, well, this is how I knew him.

The shooting death of Councilman Matt Garcia is an unspeakable tragedy. Though he was a young man, Garcia represented the absolute best of today's youth.

Councilman Matt Garcia was killed . . . shot by assailants unknown.

I'm sad and angry at the shooting death of Matt Garcia. The Daily Republic reported that Councilman John Mraz wants an immediate crackdown on street crime. What? We weren't doing that already?

What a sad, sad day this is. The energy and new life that was gifted to this community is just as suddenly sucked out by a senseless act of violence.

In 1984, I was hired as a member of the Fairfield Police Department. I chose Fairfield to make a difference in a community I cared deeply about. Matt was born about the same time.

What has happened to the quality of life as so many people here in Fairfield have come to believe?

I would like to offer my condolences to the family of Matt Garcia. Your loss is felt by many. Matt made a great impact in his too short life. I was very impressed by his character.