May 16, 2008

A moving tribute

San Jose observes Police Memorial Week

By Bill Highlander
Editor

San Jose City Council, Police Chief Rob Davis and hundreds of the city’s police officers observed the 14th annual National Police Week on May 14. A moving tribute to the 11 officers killed in the line of duty since 1924 was made with solemnity and precision in the City Hall Rotunda and the Flagstone Court.

The ceremony moved outdoors to the Flagstone Court. after comments of appreciation and remembrance by Mayor Reed, Chief Davis and Robert Lopez, president of the San Jose Police Officers Association.

All police radio channels went silent for a minute in memory of the fallen officers, and the bagpipers followed that by playing “Amazing Grace” As a bell was sounded, an officer saluted the photograph of each of the slain policemen as each name was called and the circumstances of the death were recalled.

After comments of appreciation and remembrance by Mayor Reed, Chief Davis and Robert Lopez, president, San Jose Police Officers Association, the ceremony moved outdoors to the Flagstone Court. The firing of the “Field Cannon-Minute Gun signaled the beginning of the ceremony.

A line of motorcycle police, a mounted-horse unit, and formations of police and department staff filled the Court as the Color Guard posted the colors and placed them at half-staff. A riderless horse walked past the flagpoles as Taps sounded and the police helicopter unit flew over.

After laying of the wreath, Ceremonial Unit Commander Will Montano made closing remarks and then dismissed the troops.

The annual police memorial ceremony began in San Jose in 1995 at the encouragement of then mayor Susan Hammer. Councilman Pete Constant, a retired police officer, has proposed a permanent memorial.

SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT ROLL CALL OF HONOR

SERGEANT MORRIS VAN DYCK HUBBARD #21
Killed July 12, 1924 by a hostage-taking gunman in a close range shoot-out

OFFICER JOHN BUCK #10
Died April 5, 1933 from gunshot wounds suffered five weeks earlier while attempting to apprehend armed robbery suspects in a car.

OFFICER JOHN J. COVALESK #70
Killed November 15, 1950 shot by an armed burglar who Covalesk had detected in the process of a business burglary.

OFFICER RICHARD E. HUERTA #47
Killed August 6, 1970 by gunshots from a pedestrian intent to randomly assassinate any officer he encountered that evening.

OFFICER ROBERT A. WHITE #2325
Killed January 27, 1985 by electrocution while investigating an accident in which a motorist struck a high-voltage transformer.

OFFICER HENRY BUNCH #2076
Killed July 29, 1985 by an intoxicated arrestee who wrestled the officer’s weapon away and shot him.

OFFICER ROBERT WIRHT #1596
Killed September 8, 1988 while on a police motorcycle pursuing a speeding motorist, and then being struck by another errant motorist in traffic.

OFFICER GENE R. SIMPSON #1409
Killed January 20, 1989 by a mentally ill pedestrian who wrestled and obtained the officer’s handgun and shot him.

OFFICER GORDON A. SILVA #1512
Killed January 20, 1989 by gunfire in the same firefight with the mentally ill pedestrian who had just mortally assaulted Officer Simpson.

OFFICER DESMOND J. CASEY #2705
Killed October 25, 1999 in an aircraft collision while piloting the Department’s police helicopter, preparing for the coming shift of patrol duty.

OFFICER JEFFREY M. FONTANA #3702
Killed October 28, 2001 by gunshot from suspicious motorists on whom he had just initiated a vehicle stop for follow-up criminal investigation.