The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had not lost a Deputy in the Line of Duty for more than nine years, dating back to 1995.

On the afternoon of September 1 that all changed. Deputy Ronald “Ron” Ives was on duty, in the City of Rancho Cucamonga, operating his assigned motorcycle, when a vehicle being driven by Francis James Rawls (60) of San Bernardino ran a red light at Archibald Avenue and Baseline Road, colliding with Ives’ motorcycle. Both Deputy Ives and Mr. Rawls were transported to the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, where both succumbed to their injuries. Ives became the twelfth peace officer, and the fourth motor officer to die in the line of duty in California during 2004.

Deputy Ives, an eight-year veteran of his Department graduated from the Sheriff’s Training Academy in early 1996 and was assigned to the West Valley Detention Center. In June 1999 he was promoted to Deputy II and assigned to Patrol at Rancho Cucamonga Station.

Ron Ives was a native Californian, born in Norwalk. Prior to his entering law enforcement he had worked for a company that manufactured fire trucks and tow trucks.

Ron was a pillar in the community where he worked and lived. He was very active in his church, and overtly expressing his strong interest in the safety of young people he organized and presented an annual bicycle rodeo, instructing them in traffic and bicycle safety. He gave each youngster in attendance a free bicycle helmet.

Ron Ives was a patriot and cared deeply about the tragic loss of lives in New York City on September 11, 2001. He voluntarily participated in a 4,000 mile bike ride across the United States, ending at ground zero in New York City. The ride benefited the survivors of public safety personnel who died in the line of duty on 9/11.

In honor and memory of Deputy Ives, the flags that fly over all of the Sheriff’s facilities in San Bernardino County were being flown at half-staff. In keeping with tradition, Governor Schwarzenegger directed that flags that fly over the State Capitol also be flown at half-staff.

On the morning of September 8 more than 3,500 friends and law enforcement officers from throughout the State joined members of the Ives family at the Epicenter Sports Center in Rancho Cucamonga to pay their final respects to a fallen hero.

Ron Ives was eulogized as “an outstanding law enforcement officer. Totally committed to serving the residents of San Bernardino County and a real credit to the Department”. Ron’s younger brother, David, told those gathered “Ron was a ray of sunshine everyday. He always made time for others. He never expected any payment in return; his payment was their smiles”.

At the request of the family, interment was private.

Ron Ives is survived by his wife Karen and his 20-year-old son Blake.

Contributions supporting the family may be made to:

The Ronald Ives Memorial Fund
C/0 The Safety Employees Benefit Association
555 North “E” Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401

On the early morning of August 10, the Los Angeles County Police Department suffered the loss of one of it’s most highly respected, senior command officers. Captain Michael L. Sparkes, a 53-year-old, 28-year veteran of the Department was off duty riding his bicycle near his home in South Central Los Angeles. In an apparent robbery attempt, two young male subjects confronted Sparkes. Gunfire was exchanged, one of the subjects was wounded, and their get away vehicle was hit several times. Captain Sparkes suffered at least two bullet wounds from an AK-47 Assault Rifle. The Captain was transported to Harbor General Hospital, where tragically he succumbed to his wounds shortly after his arrival.

One of the suspects in the shooting, a 19-year-old gang member, Orvis Camil Anthony of Gardena, was arrested shortly after the shooting driving the bullet-riddled get away car. He was arraigned on a charge of murder of a peace officer and attempted robbery. He is being held in the Los Angeles County Jail without bond. The second suspect , 21-year-old Miguel Magallon, was arrested at a Gardena hospital where he had gone seeking treatment for the serious gun shot wound inflicted by Captain Sparkes. He too was charged with murder and attempted robbery and was being held in the jail ward at the Los Angeles County Jail.

Michael Lawrence Sparkes was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 10,1951. Upon graduation from high school in 1969 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served honorably on the USS McDonough. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1972, Michael joined the Charleston, South Carolina Police Department. In 1975 he took up residence in Los Angeles and joined the Los Angeles County Police Department. He rose through the ranks, and on April 1, 2000 he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

At the time of his death, Captain Sparkes was assigned as Commanding Officer of police services at Harbor-UCLA General Hospital. This deeply religious, career professional was endeared by his “troops”. He was praised as being “inspirational, always encouraging others to do the best job possible”. He was universally described as “totally dedicated, a man of high principles that could not be compromised. His great work ethic was second to none”.

In memory of Captain Sparkes, the flags that fly over the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration were flown at half-staff. Governor Schwarzenegger directed that the flags that fly over the State Capitol also be flown at half-staff in honor and memory of this fallen hero.

On the morning of August 19, the Sparkes family, fellow officers, and a multitude of local dignitaries were joined at the “City of Refuge” in South Central Los Angeles by more than 1,500 peace officers representing a broad spectrum of law enforcement, paying their final respects to a fallen hero. A miles-long motorcade of police vehicles escorted Captain Michael L. Sparkes to his final resting place at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier.

Captain Sparkes, a devoted husband and father is survived by his wife Deloris, his 7-year-old son Michael, Jr., his step-daughter Briana and two grandsons.

On the afternoon of July 22 the Oakland Police Department suffered the loss of one of it’s most highly respected, veteran Motor Officers. Officer William L. Seuis (39) who had been with the Department for sixteen years was enroute home, in uniform on his assigned motorcycle, traveling Southbound on Interstate 238, when he was struck and run over by a big rig truck. The big rig truck did not stop at the scene of the accident.

Officer Seuis was transported to the Eden Hospital suffering from massive multiple injuries. All efforts to save his life failed and Seuis succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital.

The driver of the big rig truck, Carlos Mares (37) of Union City, who had fled the scene, was arrested approximately 15 minutes after the incident by CHP officers assigned to the Dublin Office. Mares was charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run.

Michelle Seuis, widow of the fallen officer, was joined in the Emergency Room at the hospital by his parents, Oakland Police Chief Richard Word and several members of his Department, all praying for his recovery. When their prayers went unanswered, Chief Word had the always difficult task of informing the parents and Seuis’ wife Michelle that one of Oakland’s finest had died. “She has to go home to tell her kids now”, Chief Word said tearfully. “They always have kids”.

In memory and honor of the fallen officer, the flags that fly over the Oakland Police Department Headquarters, the Pleasanton City Hall, where Seuis lived, and the State Capitol Building, were all being flown at half-staff.

On the morning of July 28, members of the Seuis family were joined at the Neighborhood Church in Castro Valley by more than 2,000 mourners gathered to pay their final respects to a fallen hero. In addition to family, friends, neighbors, civic leaders and fellow officers, there were more than 300 uniformed motor officers from a myriad of jurisdictions in attendance. An overt expression of the camaraderie that exist among the ranks of law enforcement motor officers.

Chief Word eulogized Officer Seuis as “dependable, hard working, and as steady as they come. An officer to the core”. Family members, his pastor, neighbors and fellow officers remembered William L. Seuis in glowing terms as “a great husband and father”. “A man of strong character and an outstanding public servant”. “Always ready with a smile and helping hand”. “A pleasure to be around. An ideal partner”.

The personnel file of Seuis filled with commendations, offered testimony as to his professional conduct and demeanor. One lady even wrote thanking him for writing her a traffic ticket.

Officer William L. Seuis was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Mission Gardens in Livermore, attended by family members and members of the Oakland Police Department. He was thirty-nine years old.

Officer Seuis is survived by his wife Michelle and daughters Danielle (13) and Kristin (11).

Memorial donations may be made to the Seuis Family Trust, C/0 Oakland Police Officers Association, 555 5th Street, Oakland, CA 94607.

On the evening of June 9 four deputies from the City of Industry Station in Los Angeles County responded to a “man with a gun” call at a Motel 6 in Hacienda Heights. When the deputies arrived at the door of the second-floor unit they were confronted by 51 year-old Paul Smith of Whittier who came out shooting. Smith’s weapon not immediately identified, he was armed with a pellet gun which closely resembled a 40 caliber semiautomatic pistol and, in the heat of the moment, the deputies could not distinguish it from the real thing.

Deputies returned fire. Smith was killed, Arruda was hit in the neck and another deputy was struck by a pellet but not seriously wounded. Arruda was apparently dodging one of the pellets from Smith’s weapon, stepped into the line of fire, and was struck by one of the rounds fired by a fellow deputy.

Deputy Arruda was transported by helicopter to the Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition, finally succumbing to his injury on June 15.

Investigators, attempting to find a motive for Mr. Smith’s actions determined that he had been living in the Motel for a year after losing his home and his job two years before. He had no criminal record and had just purchased the pellet gun and a hunting knife the day before the deadly incident.

Investigators deduced that, based on his actions, Smith was bent on dying and chose to have some peace officers do it for him.

Michael Arruda was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts and served four years in the Navy before joining the Sheriff’s Department in May 1991. He had been assigned to the men’s Central Jail for eight years before transferring to Industry Station in year 2000.

Described by his supervisors as “an outstanding, hard-working, reliable, diligent team player”, Arruda had been the recipient of numerous commendations. He was a fitness buff, weight lifter and a runner who had participated in the annual Baker-to-Vegas Relay Race.

On the morning of June 21, more than 1,000 uniformed peace officers from a myriad of law enforcement agencies joined members of Michael Arruda’s family, his fellow deputies, friends, neighbors, Sheriff Leroy Baca, Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, and members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors at the Calvary Chapel in Diamond Bar to pay their final respects. Following a most fitting memorial tribute, an escort of more than 100 law enforcement vehicles escorted Deputy Michael R. Arruda to his final resting place at Forest Lawn in Covina Hills.

Deputy Arruda is survived by his eleven-year-old son Michael, Jr. and his fiance Sgt. Lidia Silva, also a deputy, who is expecting their daughter, already named Savannah, in August.

A trust fund has been established to help provide for the education of the two children. Contributions can be sent to “Sheriff’s Relief Fund No. 272”, C/0 City of Industry Station, 150 N. Hudson Ave., City of Industry, CA 91744.

On the afternoon of June 3 the California Highway Patrol lost one of its most highly respected and decorated motor officers. Officer James Goodman, a 20-year CHP veteran assigned to the San Bernardino office, was in a high speed pursuit of a hit and run suspect in the Redlands area when his motorcycle collided with a mini-van that had entered an intersection in his path. Officer Goodman was transported by ambulance to the Loma Linda Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Fellow officers who knew Goodman were in shock and disbelief at the news of his death. Mark Muscardini, President of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, who had worked side by side with Goodman in the 1980’s out of the Oakland office, expressed the attitude of many, “I was really shocked to hear Jim Goodman was killed in a motorcycle accident, because he was probably the most proficient motorcycle officer we have“.

Muscardini recalled that Goodman’s most heroic moment came in the devastating Bay Area Loma Prieta earth quake in 1989. “Jim was the first officer on the scene that evening, and, removing his helmet and gun belt due to limited space, actually crawled into a portion of the collapsed freeway structure, saving people. It was one of the most heroic events in CHP history that I am familiar with”.

For his courageous acts on that day in October, 1989 Officer James Goodman was awarded the Department’s prestigious Medal of Valor.

Goodman’s many colleagues and friends all agreed that “his large stature belied the nicest, most soft-spoken, well-mannered person you’d ever want to meet. Someone that they would never forget”. One officer observed “Goodman’s name pretty much described the kind of person he was, James Goodman was a good man”.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the flags that fly over the Capitol to half staff in honor of the fallen hero and expressed the personal condolences of he and the first lady to the Goodman family.

On Wednesday morning, June 9, family members, friends, neighbors and fellow officers were joined by several hundred peace officers from a multitude of jurisdictions to pay their final respects to one of California’s finest.

The Rock Church in San Bernardino was filled to over-flowing, where Goodman was eulogized by brother officers and members of the CHP command staff. Attorney General Bill Lockyer, ever present at law enforcement funerals, expressed condolences on behalf of the people of California.

Officer Goodman is survived by his wife Patricia and two adult sons, Jacob and Joshua.

The family has requested that any remembrances be made in the name of James Goodman to the Leukemia Foundation, 820 Davis Street, Suite 420, Evanston, IL 60201.

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department had not lost an officer in the Line of Duty for more than 37 years. On the late morning of May 31, 2004 that was about to change. Deputy David P. Grant, a 15-year veteran of the Department, with more than 26 years of law enforcement experience, suffered fatal injuries responding to a “plane down” call near the town of Columbia. Responding appropriately to the call at a high rate of speed, Grant’s vehicle swerved to avoid colliding with two other vehicles, left the roadway and struck a tree. The critically injured Deputy was transported to the Sonora Regional Medical Center, where, surrounded by family and fellow deputies, he succumbed to his injuries.

Born and raised in Tuolumne County, David Grant was a “natural” and was destined to become a peace officer. At the tender age of sixteen he served as an Explorer Cadet with the Sonora Police Department. Following his career dream, he was sworn in as a Sonora police officer in 1978 at the age of twenty-one. Desiring to broaden his experience in a larger department, Grant accepted an appointment with the Oceanside, California Police Department in 1981. He served the City of Oceanside with distinction for eight years, but family and a deep-seated love for Tuolumne County caused him to return home. On October 9, 1989 David P. Grant was sworn in as a Tuolumne County Deputy Sheriff.

Tuolumne County Sheriff Dick Rogers, who had been a friend and had known Dave Grant all of his adult life, typified the out-pouring of sentiment and grief being expressed from the entire community, “He loved his profession, he loved helping people and he loved Tuolumne County. This Department is shaken to its core”. Sheriff Rogers went on to observe, “In a tight knit community like Tuolumne County, the loss of someone as beloved as Dave isn’t treated like it might be in some other areas of the State. It’s treated more like the loss of a close family member”.

On the afternoon of June 6, a procession of police, sheriff, fire, search and rescue, ambulance, and park service vehicles drove slowly down Sonora’s main street, escorting the limos carrying the Grant family to the Sierra Bible Church, where more than 2,000 mourners had gathered to pay their respects to Deputy David Grant. A myriad of law enforcement agencies, from as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada, were represented and Attorney General Bill Lockyer was once again present, offering condolences on behalf of the people of California.

Eulogized by many, perhaps the highest praise of Dave came from fellow Deputy Ken Diaz, President of the Tuolumne County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, when he said “I don’t know why this happened, but I do know that if God needed a police officer in the streets of Heaven, then he has one of our finest”.

Deputy Grant is survived by his wife “Richie”, Son Justin (24), adult daughters Rory Williams and Jennifer, a teen-age daughter Whitney (17).

The Grant family has requested that any remembrances be made to the “David P. Grant Scholarship Fund”, C/0 Central California Bank, 13375 “C” Mono Way, Sonora, CA

On the evening of April 23 the Solano County Sheriff’s Department lost one of its most valued members, Reserve Deputy John Sandlin.

Sandlin and his partner, Deputy Jason Roper, had been backing up other deputies on a traffic stop when a vehicle passed them at a high rate of speed. The deputies gave chase and while negotiating a curve on the road the patrol car apparently slipped off the shoulder, hit a rock and flipped.

Deputy Sandlin was ejected from the vehicle and suffered blunt force trauma, resulting in his death. Deputy Roper suffered minor cuts and bruises, was treated and released.

The day following the tragic accident, several individuals left flowers at the scene in an overt expression of devotion and remembrance.

Deputy Sandlin, 66 years old, had been a “Citizen Peace Officer” with Solano County for more than 20 years. He is the third Deputy to lose his life In the Line of Duty in the history of the Department.

A retired naval officer and long time resident of Vallejo, Sandlin first volunteered with the Sheriff’s department as a pilot in the Aero Bureau. During his many years of service he typically volunteered 500-600 hours of his time each year in a myriad of assignments, performing each and every one of them in an exemplary manner.

Sheriff Gary Stanton, a personal friend of Sandlin, lamented his loss “John was a mentor and peer counselor to our younger deputies. He had an awful lot to offer. He was doing a job that he truly loved. Not too many people volunteer to take this risk”, the Sheriff said.

In August 2003, Deputy Sandlin was decorated with the Department’s prestigious Medal of Valor and Purple Heart. This followed an incident several months earlier when Sandlin was guarding an inmate at a local hospital and the inmate attempted to escape. The inmate, bigger and 20 years younger than Sandlin punched the deputy in the face, sprayed him with pepper spray and tried to grab his gun. Seriously injured, Sandlin courageously took control of the situation, was able to draw his service weapon and back the inmate down.

Sandlin’s actions on this occasion were indicative of his courage and commitment to do a good job. Sheriff’s Captain Frank Lucas observed that he “absolutely loved being a reserve deputy and his enthusiasm for the job was infectious”.

On Wednesday morning May 5 several hundred peace officers representing a broad spectrum of law enforcement agencies statewide gathered at the Solano County fairgrounds in Vallejo, joining family members, friends and local dignitaries, to pay their final respects to a fallen comrade. A Catholic mass and interment were conducted in private.

Deputy John Sandlin is survived by his wife Kay Talbot and three adult daughters, Susan, Lori and Lizabeth.

A trust fund has been established:

Deputy John Sandlin Memorial Trust Fund
Account # 48677
CMT Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 5040
Fairfield, CA 94533-0682

On the afternoon of April 21 the California Highway Patrol suffered its’ 201st Line of Duty death in the 75-year history of the organization.

Officer Thomas Steiner, a thirty-five year old, five-year veteran of the CHP had exited the Pomona Court House in Los Angeles County after testifying in several matters and was walking across the parking lot to his car. Without warning, a vehicle pulled up alongside the officer and 16-year-old “wanna be” gang member Valentino Mitchell Arenas fired several rounds from a semi-automatic weapon, mortally wounding the officer. When arrested the following day, young Arenas could give no reason for the shooting, and indications were that he had randomly selected Officer Steiner as a target to prove how “macho” he was to members of the notorious Pomona “12th Street Gang”.

Steve Cooley, Los Angeles County’s tough-minded District Attorney, immediately announced that Valentino Arenas would be filed on as an adult, charging him with the murder of a peace officer, with special circumstances. Due to his age Arenas cannot receive the death penalty, but Cooley indicated that his office would press for the most severe sentence possible, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The District Attorney voiced the sentiment of virtually every peace officer in the State when he declared “This was the ultimate hate crime – the assassination of a law enforcement officer solely based on the victim’s status in the community and a uniform worn. Those who commit these crimes and those who aid, abet and encourage the cowardly gang subculture should be condemned”.

As a teenager, Steiner moved from Ohio to Long Beach, where he graduated from Robert A. Milikan High School in 1987. Following high school he worked and attended Cal Poly Pomona, part-time, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1997. He subsequently joined the CHP in October 1998.

Following his tragic, untimely death, Steiner was being praised by a myriad of his peers in the CHP. Jim Newkirk, a Counselor at the CHP Academy remembered Steiner as someone who “stood out as a strong cadet with a positive attitude”. A host of others came forward pouring out adjectives to describe their friend and comrade; “family loving”, “job loving”, “humorous”, “friendly”, “dedicated”, to name just a few.

The day following Steiner’s death Governor Schwarzenegger ordered the flags flown over the Capitol to half-staff in honor of the fallen officer.

In a statement, the Governor was quoted as saying “Thomas was a true hero and a valiant police officer who spent the last five years of his life protecting the lives of others. It is a tragedy to lose Thomas in the Line of Duty. Maria and I offer condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time”.

On the morning of April 27, more than 2,000 mourners gathered in and out of the Calvary Chapel in Downey to pay their final respects to a real hero, taken too soon. CHP Commissioner “Spike” Helmick understandably had difficulty in controlling his emotions in eulogizing one of his fine young officers, declaring “The death of Tom Steiner has reached a new low in our history. On that date a despicable little coward murdered Tom in cold blood. I have a promise to make to all of the coward’s friends; their day of reckoning is coming, and it is coming very quickly. Such cowardly acts will not be tolerated in the State of California”.

Officer Tom Steiner was escorted to his final resting-place at Forest Lawn, Cypress by a mile long caravan of police vehicles representing a multitude of jurisdictions statewide.

Officer Steiner is survived by his wife Heidi, 12-year-old stepson Justin and 4-year-old son Bryan.

Donations to the Steiner family can be made in care of Rancho Bank, Steiner Family Trust, P.O. Box 697, San Dimas, CA 91773.

The Merced Police Department had not lost an officer In The Line of Duty in its’ entire 115 year history, dating back to the year 1889. On the evening of April 15 all of that changed. Officer Stephan Gray, 34-years-old, a 7 – year veteran of the Department was shot and killed by a known felon on parole. Officer Gray assigned to the Special Operations Unit working street-level narcotics and gang violence had stopped a vehicle with an occupant known to Gray, 21-year-old Tahua “Tao” Rivera, a felon on parole. Witnesses at the scene said they talked for sometime, but when Gray attempted to search Rivera he broke and ran. Officer Gray pursued the suspect on foot when the suspect turned and fired an unknown weapon at Gray, striking him twice, mortally wounding the officer.

A massive manhunt was immediately mounted for suspect Rivera, joined in by all of the surrounding local law enforcement agencies and the California Highway Patrol. A substantive reward was being offered for the apprehension of Rivera, but he continued to elude arrest. Rivera’s mother, 43-year-old Erika Rivera, who was known to have had contact with her son after the shooting was arrested for aiding and abetting and as an accessory and was being held in the Merced County jail, with bail set at $500,000.

Gray’s death was followed by an outpouring of sentiment from the entire community. Police Chief Tony Dosetti, Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin, city and county officials, members of the State Legislature, all expressing their grief and a resolve to do something about the ever increasing criminal conduct of gangs in their community. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the First Lady expressed their personal condolences and the Governor directed that the flags flying over the State Capitol be flown at half-staff in honor of the fallen hero.

On May 2, seventeen days after the tragic death of Officer Gray, the multi-jurisdictional task force that had worked day and night to apprehend “Tao” Rivera, was rewarded when he was arrested outside the town of Chowchilla. Rivera will be prosecuted for murdering a peace officer in The Line of Duty, a crime calling for the death penalty.

Stephan Gray was remembered by his peers as an outgoing, good spirited professional who related well to his community. He loved to stop and talk to people, especially young people. He cared, helped them with their problems and served as a role model.

On the morning of April 21 St. Patricks Catholic Church was filled beyond capacity with more than 2,000 people; family, friends, civic officials and uniformed peace officers from a myriad of jurisdictions, all paying their final respects to a real hero. Attorney General Bill Lockyer was present, as he always is at law enforcement funerals, offering condolences on behalf of the people of our Great State. Michelle Gray, widow of the fallen officer eulogized her husband thusly, “Someone asked me if Stephan was a hero for the way he died. I had to tell her Stephan was a hero for the way he lived”.

A Motorcade of more than 300 police vehicles escorted the flag draped coffin and remains of a brother officer to his final resting-place.

Officer Stephan Gray is survived by his wife Michelle, daughters Landess, age 13, Cameron, age 3 and son Isaiah, age 5.

A trust fund has been established at the County Bank “In memory of Stephan Gray”. Contributions can be mailed to the Merced Police Department, 611 W. 22nd Street, Merced, California 95340.

On the evening of April 10, 2004 the San Francisco Police Department, one of the oldest municipal police agencies in the State, lost yet another of their fine young officers in The Line of Duty, and California recorded its’ third such loss in the New Year.

Officer Isaac Espinoza, 29-years-old, an eight-year veteran of the police department was on routine patrol in the troubled Bayview District with his partner, 38-year-old Officer Barry Parker. The officer’s stopped their vehicle and called out to a man acting suspiciously who was walking away from the police vehicle. Without warning, the man turned and began firing at the officers with an automatic weapon, later determined to be an AK-47, assault rifle. Both officers were wounded by gunfire and were transported to San Francisco General Hospital where Officer Espinoza succumbed to his wounds and Officer Parker was treated for a wound to his ankle.

The suspect in the shooting, later identified as David Hill, a 21-year-old gang member was arrested at the San Ramon Regional Medical Center, where he had gone to seek treatment for his “mental illness”.

Hill was being charged with murder and attempted murder of a peace officer, a crime that could and should call for the death penalty. Unbelievably, however, Kamala Harris, San Francisco’s newly elected District Attorney called a press conference and declared that in keeping with a campaign promise to not seek the death penalty in any capital murder case, she would not be seeking the death penalty in the case of Police Officer Isaac Espinoza. Strong opposition and outcry to District Attorney Harris’ decision in this matter was being voiced by law enforcement statewide. One veteran police spokesman observed “if we can’t offer some degree of protection to the most visible symbol of a civilized society, a policeman, the rest of you don’t have a chance!”

Isaac Espinoza was a native San Franciscan, raised in Daly City, where he graduated from high school, and later attended Skyline Community College, before joining the San Francisco Police Department at age twenty-one.

Newly elected San Francisco Mayor Gavin Nesom appropriately mourned the murder of Officer Espinoza. Flags were ordered to half-staff at City all and in a press conference at the Hall of Justice the Mayor vowed to end the violence in the Bayview area of the City and pledged that “Officer Isaac Espinoza was by any objective standard a hero, and I assure you, his life will not be in vain”.

Heather Fong, newly appointed Police Chief praised Officer Isaac Espinoza as “an officer who exemplified what it means to be a San Francisco police officer”.

On Friday morning, April 16, several thousand mourners filled St. Mary’s Cathedral in downtown San Francisco to over-flowing, stopping vehicular traffic in every direction. In addition to City and County officials, family members and friends, virtually every law enforcement agency in the State was represented, all coming together to pay their respects to a great young police officer taken too soon. The State’s “Top Cop”, Attorney General Bill Lockyer was once again in attendance offering condolences on behalf of the people of our Great State. As a final tribute, a miles long caravan of police vehicles escorted the remains of Officer Isaac Espinoza from St. Mary’s Cathedral to h is final resting place, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.

Officer Espinoza is survived by his wife Renata and 3-year-old daughter Isabella.

A trust fund has been established in the name of the “Espinoza Family”, C/0 San Francisco Police Credit Union, 2550 Irving Street, San Francisco, CA 94122, Account No. 1360436S5.