Kim Pastore is honoring the legacy of her late husband Jorge through the Jorge Pastore Foundation, which seeks to provide robust training opportunities for law enforcement, bridge the gap between officers and community members, and promote mental and physical wellness for officers.

The backstory

Jorge and Kim first moved to Austin five years ago from Florida, where they owned a karate school together. Jorge also worked as a firefighter paramedic in Florida and was passionate about tactical training, often seeking out additional training opportunities and paying for them himself.

After moving to Austin in January 2019 and joining the Austin Police Department, he became involved in the Honor Guard, Special Response Team and Counter Assault Strike Team, eventually earning a spot on the Special Weapons and Tactics team, or SWAT.

On Nov. 11, 2023, Jorge and the APD SWAT team were responding to a hostage rescue call in south Austin when he was shot and killed by the perpetrator. Nearly 7,000 people attended his funeral, which included a 16-mile long procession.


“Shortly after his death, and with feeling like I could go one of two ways—and I didn't want to go the 'never leave my room' way—I was like, let's try to do something in his honor, to remember him, and something he'd be proud of,” Kim said.

Diving in deeper

The foundation was founded on three pillars: training, wellness and community engagement, three things Jorge was passionate about.

One of the foundation’s goals is to create a state-of-the-art law enforcement training facility in the Austin area. Kim said many Central Texas officers often have to travel far to attend trainings, which are sometimes canceled due to lack of space or funding, or departments are too short-staffed to allow officers to take time off.


The better trained officers there are, Kim said, the less likely they are to "get into altercations or make some poor choices." The facility would help create an environment for training to be easily accessible, she said.

“We just got flooded with coins and patches and hats and t-shirts and all of these things [after Jorge’s death] and I thought, this isn't what Jorge would want,” Kim said. “What he’d really want is for you guys to just sign up for trainings, take care of each other, be safe, have each other's backs, all those things that he was all about. ... We agree that we need police officers, but let's get them more training and get them better prepared to do this difficult job that not many people are willing to do."

The facility is looking to include:
  • A realistic space for officers to run through scenarios and improve tactical skills
  • A gym with 24/7 access
  • Wellness programs
  • Mentorship opportunities
  • Office space for debriefing sessions and education
Specific plans for the facility are still a work in progress, Kim said. In the meantime, the foundation has already hosted pistol and rifle classes with local officers, and is also looking at implementing defensive and tactical classes. The foundation has also been able to supplement training funds needed for officers working with the Austin Police Association.

Kim said the foundation has given her purpose, and that being able to reshape the nature and culture of law enforcement and emphasize wellbeing reflects Jorge and honors his memory.


"If we have a great training facility and we’re investing in our police officers and it becomes a better culture and a better place to work, they’re able to community police more, enjoy their jobs again and feel like they had a good day helping people," Kim said. "Then those people had good experiences with police officers. It’s just the direction we need to go. It’s being part of the solution.”

What happens next?

The foundation will host its inaugural Humble Warrior Games at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet on Nov. 10. The name of the event honors Jorge, who Kim said she referred to as her humble warrior, and is being held nearly a year to the day of his death.

The event will feature a 5K trail run, team obstacle challenge and tactical activities such as how to apply a tourniquet or perform compression CPR, as well as a tattoo booth, bounce house and food from local restaurant J5.


“We're trying to make it a day where we're raising funds and awareness for the foundation and funds for our 2025 training initiatives while also creating a space for the first responder community, along with civilians, to hang out and enjoy each other's space and camaraderie,” Kim said. “That was very important to Jorge."Event details

Humble Warrior Games