They learned that the No. 1 reason for stealing cars was for the parts, said southern division Capt. Miguel Rosario. "They want to point the finger away from them, so they gave us crucial information as to mode of operations and other suspects involved," Rosario said.

San Diego police Capt. Miguel Rosario, a patrol officer back then, was the first cop on the scene, believing he was responding to a single accidental shooting. Carrying a standard-issue .38-caliber revolver with six bullets, the Marine Corps veteran was in for the fight of his life against a much-better-armed opponent. "Talk about feeling inadequate," Rosario said. "He's got an Uzi, I've got a .38, and I'm thinking it's a robbery gone bad and his buddies are going to encircle me." Rosario would later play a key role in beefing up officers' weaponry and training to stop violent criminals. When Rosario arrived at the McDonald's, he saw people hiding behind cars in the lot. He didn't know what was going on, but "I got that little sick feeling in the pit of my stomach," he said. The SWAT-trained officer ducked behind a parked pickup truck, "and he started opening up on me," Rosario said. He was badly outgunned and knew it. Worse, he believed he had more than one adversary. "I wouldn't have minded taking him on one-on-one," Rosario said in his transplanted South Bronx accent. From behind the truck, Rosario radioed in a Code 10 - "send SWAT" - and seconds later a Code 11 - "send everybody." San Diego's SWAT team then consisted of patrol officers with extra training who carried their special equipment in their squad cars, Rosario said. Rosario ran back to his car to retrieve his Ruger Mini-14 military-style rifle. Two patrol officers fired shotguns to cover Rosario while he took up position. But he couldn't get a clear shot. Police clearly needed more firepower and a new strategy, Rosario said. "The time had come where you had to have a full-time, committed and dedicated, highly trained, well-equipped team ... that were committed to shooting, being in shape and being able to respond rapidly anywhere in the city," he said. "We didn't have what we have now," Rosario said. "We saw the benefit and the need for that," Rosario said, though in 1984 he blew off steam in Las Vegas for two days in lieu of counseling. San Diego Police Officer Miguel Rosario, the first on the scene, remembers having to cope with the aftermath. "I had to work the next day. I drove around in a very numb state," he said. While counseling was available, no one advised Rosario to take time off. "It wasn't that the department was insensitive. It was that we just didn't know," he said.

Miguel Rosario Captain Miguel Rosario San Diego Police Department 28-year veteran and HPRSD member, Miguel Rosario, hasbeen promoted to Captain in the San Diego Police Department. Captain Rosario is the commander of theSDPD Northeastern Division which serves the neighborhoods of Carmel Mountain, Miramar, Miramar Ranch North, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Encantada, Rancho Penasquitos, Sabre Springs and Scripps Ranch.

Guaderrama replaced Captain, Miguel Rosario who is now a part of the Southern Division of the San Diego Police Department.