June 10, 2004

Hundreds witness dedication of statue at Jeffrey Fontana Park

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

On a balmy Saturday morning, Mayor Ron Gonzales and Vice Mayor Pat Dando honored fallen San Jose Police Officer Jeffrey Fontana and his fellow officers with the unveiling of a bronze sculpture in Jeffrey Fontana Park.

In attendance were family, friends, San Jose police, San Jose firefighters and citizens to pay tribute to the officer’s ultimate sacrifice and to celebrate his brief life. Chief of Police Robert Davis served as the master of ceremonies of the dedication ceremony featuring the San Jose Police Department’s [SJPD] Horse Mounted Unit and Color Guard, Castillero Middle School Choir and guitarist Chris O’Connel. One hundred cut roses were available for guests to place at the sculpture in Fontana’s likeness along with handwritten notes to the family.

“It is a privilege and honor to be with Jeffrey’s parents, Sandy and Tony, family, friends and neighbors who gather today to remember this young man and all young men and women who serve in the police and fire department and the sacrifices they and their families go through,” Ron Gonzales said at the dedication. “It wasn’t until the celebration of his life that I understood who Jeff was. He sought public service in pursuit to help others.

Unfortunately, his life was cut short but his life is a symbol to the police and fire departments of the dangers they face on a daily basis.”

Officer Fontana was shot and killed on Oct. 28, 2001 at 4:30 a.m. on a street of well-kept relatively new homes in Almaden on what was believed to be a routine traffic stop.

Suspect DeShawn Campbell has still not been tried on the death-penalty trial, though he is serving in prison on 11 felonies for robbery, fraud and battery of a police officer. There was a delay in the trial in November, 2003 due to defendant Campbell’s public defender Charlie Gillian’s potential conflict of interest in the case by performing legal work in response to a civil suit that Fontana’s parents brought against Campbell and his father, Robert. Deputy District Attorney Lane Liroff states that the trial is set for sometime in October, 2004, but did not know if Ed Sousa, the new attorney for Campbell, would be ready.

“We all need heroes to look up to, to believe in, to want to be like,” Tony Fontana, father of the victim said standing under the majestic oaks near the bronze sculpture. “Here is a monument to that kind of person…Jeff was kind, Jeff was compassionate, Jeff was focused. Jeff wanted to make the world a better place. He wanted to make it safer. The police are our first line of defense. We send them out into the city, into areas we fear to go, into the front lines. Officers like Jeff do everything they can and that is why we must remember that even though they are human they can be heroes. Jeff was killed because he wore the uniform. His sacrifice and all those that serve will not be forgotten.”

Fontana graduated from San Jose State with a bachelor of science degree in administrative justice. He finished fifth in his class of 39 from the Police Academy and had completed the customary 16-week training before assuming solo patrol only four months before his death. The killing sent shock waves throughout the usually peaceful neighborhood of Almaden.

“There are three groups of people that I hope will enjoy this art piece for many years to come.” Vice Mayor Pat Dando said to the crowd. “The community, neighbors, families, children that will continue to use this park for many years to come. When you come here there will by joyful moments, but I hope you will introduce to new members of the neighborhood what happened; to pause, read the plaque of Jeffrey Fontana and pass that history down. Communities develop their history and this is a piece of history we don’t want to forget.”

“The second group of people is our police and public safety officers. The Fontana family wanted to make sure that what we did in this piece would be in respect for all our police officers because they know when they take on the role of public safety they do it with a bond and with a badge of courage, of honor, of service. They step forward with that courage at a moments notice if they are called.”

“The third group is the Fontana family,” Dando continued. “This place is for you…I hope when you come to this place you might find comfort and peace knowing this park is for Jeffrey Fontana and the officers who will follow.”

The bronze sculpture features a police officer in Fontana’s likeness sitting on a bench placing his hat on the head of the small boy seated next to him while the family dog watches. The piece created by sculpture Gary Alsum was inspired by Fontana’s concern for public safety, his compassion for children and devotion to family. It is an interactive art sculpture, inviting passersby to sit on the bench and read the dedication on the boulder placed in front of the piece. In 2002, Golden Oak Park was renamed Jeffrey Fontana Park near the street where he ended his watch.

A scholarship fund has been set up in Jeffrey Fontana’s memory. Donations may be sent to: San Jose State University Foundation, Jeffrey Fontana Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o The Administration of Justice Department, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, Ca. 95192-0050.