Video: Officer Gary Gonzales plays on the beach.

The San Diego Police Department shares, “Sometimes, we never know where our shift will take us. Officer Gonzales was patrolling Fiesta Island when he saw a group with a large bonfire that was unsafe. He saw they were playing music and singing when he approached the group. Officer Gonzales took a couple of minutes out of his day to bond with the group and show off his accordion skills. After some smiles and memories made, the group agreed to control the bonfire.”

A police officer took a break from his patrol to join a music session, as seen in footage released by the San Diego Police Department on March 19, 2022. Officer Gary Gonzales was on patrol on Fiesta Island early in March when he encountered a group of people gathered around a bonfire that he felt was unsafe.

The group agreed to control the bonfire, police said, but also gave Gonzales a chance to show off his accordion skills. Video of the impromptu performance has proven a hit on TikTok. In a comment to local media, Gonzales said: “It was one of the best experiences I’ve had working here with the San Diego Police Department.” Credit: San Diego Police Department via Storyful.

The video shows a man singing “Gaviota” (Seagull) by Mexican music legend Ramón Ayala while another man plays the guitar and the officer plays the accordion. The now-viral moment happened around 8:PM on March 2, police said. In a recent interview Sunday, Officer Gary Gonzales said he approached the group because he noticed their bonfire seemed unsafe, with flames that appeared taller than 12 inches, a violation of the city’s fire pit regulations.

Gary shares, “It was one of the best experiences I’ve had working here with the San Diego Police Department,” Gonzales said, adding that he believes the department “does a very good job about talking about how we should not only do our job as police officers but be relatable to the community.” Gonzales, who has been on the police force for almost three years, said he didn’t expect the clip to go viral. He said he noticed the video reached social media users in other states, including Texas and Georgia.

Gary was happy he not only bonded with the group on Fiesta Island but also reached others beyond San Diego. He hopes the moment shows that officers can not only enforce regulations but also create positive interactions with community members.

Gonzales said he learned to play the accordion 10 years ago when he was 15 . He owns three accordions and plays regularly at home. “For me it’s therapeutic,” he said. “It’s just something I truly do enjoy.” On Sunday, Gonzales reconnected with one of the musicians, Gustavo Ozuna, at Fiesta Island. “We were all amazed — first of all of his talent, and how nice he was when he pulled up,” Ozuna said in an interview. “If he could stay longer, we would’ve had him there all night.”

Officer Gary Gonzales is a 27 year veteran of law enforcement: 2 yrs LAPD and 25 years SDPD. Assignments as a Patrol Officer, Community Relations Officer, Police Detective, and Police Sergeant. Previous investigative units includes Central Investigations, Domestic Violence Unit, Elder Abuse Unit, Sex Crimes Unit, Homicide Unit, Southern Division Investigation Unit, Internal Affairs Unit, and Neighborhood Policing Investigations. I am currently assigned as a Sergeant in the Neighborhood Policing Unit; Central Division.

An adjunct professor with 15 yrs experience at various colleges in San Diego and is recognized as a passionate, dedicated, and well spoken educator among his colleagues. Possess a unique flare of personal interaction and leadership based training to influence students grasp of the course curriculum and to inspire them to look beyond their own expectations with the forethought of becoming leaders in their own family, community, and career.

He teaches at the San Diego Regional Public Safety Training Institute at Mira Mar Community College. Job performance includes academic training to officers and police recruits in law enforcement philosophy and specializes in subject matter of neighborhood policing, diversity, tactical communication, intelligent led policing, domestic violence, elder abuse, and sex crimes.He also teaches with Custom Training to probation officers with the Los Angeles Probation Department on job enhancement skills in the area of Court Room Testimony, Emotional and Psychological Health & Survival on the Job, and Mental Preparedness Skills for Dangerous Situations and Minors in the Institution.

Playing the accordion is definitely soothing and great therapy.