Chicago mayor helps pulls off proposal surprise at graduation ceremony

CHICAGO, IL -- New Chicago Police Officer Gabriel Gamino, Jr. dropped to one knee and proposed to his longtime girlfriend during the Chicago police graduation ceremony at Navy Pier. Who should bear witness? Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

"For about five years now, I've been waiting to finally become a Chicago police officer and she's been behind me this whole entire road and helping me through my downfalls and everything," Gamino, 25, said of his now fiancee, Gabrielle Thomas, 24. "So I figured today would be a special day for me, as well, for her because she helped me achieve this goal that I've been dreaming of since I was a kid."

A surprised Gabrielle said, "Yes!"

While Gaming proposed, Emanuel held the rookie's diploma and other items. Then he hugged the bride and said, "Mazel tov!"

"It just so happened that it worked out. He was there, and he heard what we were doing today. So I figured might as well just have him in there too. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing," Gaming said.

"I can't believe the mayor was in on it!" Gabrielle said.

Gamino was one of 150 new Chicago police officers who graduated Tuesday.