November 3, 2005


Remembering Officer Jeffrey Fontana

By Kymberli W Brady
Staff Writer

Walking down the familiar path from one landmark to the other last Friday evening, many who attended the candlelight vigil for slain officer Jeffrey Fontana found it hard to believe that four years had passed since residents on a quiet Almaden cul de sac awakened to the sounds of a gunshot that would forever change the Almaden community.

Fellow SJPD officers stand at attention in honor of their fallen comrades.

Even harder for others to believe was that the very system they said he gave his life to protect, had been unsuccessful in bringing his alleged killer to trial four years later.

“This has just been unbelievable,” said Fontana’s mother Sandy. “Nothing will bring Jeffrey back and I realize that, but let’s get some justice here. I feel sorry for these police officers. They put their lives on the line every darn day. Then one of their own is killed and it’s been four years and nothing. I have lots of questions but they keep telling me this is not my trial—we have no rights in this. That’s what we’ve been told from day one.”

During the ceremony, Sandy thanked those in attendance, and offered special thanks to the Las Madres 2002 group for planting flowers at the park, and the residents of Calle Almaden for allowing the family to hold yet another vigil and for keeping Jeff in their hearts.

San Jose Chamber of Commerce President Pat Dando couldn’t help remind the crowd of the prayer recited last year—one of hope that by this Oct. 28, justice would have been served.

“We’re still waiting,” said Dando. “As we wait, the days drag on for his family, his fellow officers and this community that mourns his loss. My fervent prayer for next year is that justice will have been served and that will truly be a time when we can celebrate his life.”

Mourners began contributing to a makeshift memorial at the site where Fontana was killed nearly four years ago.

Chaplin Bridgen called Fontana a man of integrity, passion, and character, who desired to be the best cop that he possibly could be.

Mayor Ron Gonzales spoke of the difficult task that faces the mayor in notifying the family when an officer is killed in the line of duty and recognized the nearly 1,200 men and women who make up the police department and put their lives on the line everyday to protect the citizens of San Jose.

“They leave their homes every day to go to work not knowing whether they’ll come back,” he said “We also recognize the families of our police officers who sacrifice a great deal for their loved ones to be in the line of service.”

In an emotional presentation, Councilmember Nancy Pyle noted that Fontana had “hallowed the park by giving his blood for his community”, leaving behind a purpose to be “ever vigilant of what is happening in our community and to be ever appreciative of all the fine men and women who honor us by serving us with their dedication day in and day out.”

While reflecting on the procession to the park and the time that has passed since Fontana’s death, Dando noted that at times, it seemed like such a long time ago and at others, like only yesterday.

“As we walked here this evening I couldn’t help but think about all the time that this community has given to make this a better place to be,” she said. “The time that our police officers, firefighters, and their families have given to this community to make it a better place to live. I also couldn’t help but think about the time that was lost to Jeffrey Fontana and the time he should have had with his family.”

Councilmember Nancy Pyle offers her condolences to Jeffrey Fontana’s mother Sandy.

“Jeffrey had drive and dedication; he was a special education child who worked to improve himself,” insisted Fontana’s father Tony. “He was a baseball, football, soccer, and tennis player, a boy scout, a baseball umpire, and he loved his dogs. He was a sports enthusiast for the San Francisco 49ers, the Giants and the Sharks. He was a volunteer for the San Jose Police Department before he entered the academy. His greatest work was as a volunteer working with children. He worked tirelessly to be the best that he could be.”

“And for all that, he was murdered while unarmed,” Tony added. “He never deserved what happened to him and we will see that justice will be served.”

He then thanked District Attorney George Kennedy for never forgetting Jeffrey, Deputy District Attorney Lane Lieroff for his determination to see the trial to the conclusion, and to “Camilla Harris for not being San Jose District Attorney.”

Chief Rob Davis personally thank the men and women of the department for continuing to come to work on a daily basis, put on a uniform, and then put their lives on the line for their community. He then reiterated the commitments made to the family a few years ago and repeated not once, but three times, “We have not forgotten Jeff, we will not forget Jeff, and we know that we will see Jeff again—and we also know that justice will be served in this case.

Also present were the parents of slain officer Jim McDonald, who was killed in Compton in the line of duty, the day he was to don San Jose blue for the first time.

Mayor Ron Gonzales and councilmembers Nancy Pyle, Cindy Chavez, Chuck Reed, and Forrest Williams pay their respects to the Fontana family.

“I think it’s a very classy thing for his parents to be here tonight to participate and support the Fontana family,” said Chief Davis. “They know better than anybody what the Fontana family is going through.”

Commenting on the change in direction, Dando was pleased to see that the procession had been reversed, a symbolic move with a happier end.

“In the past, we walked from this park to the place where officer Fontana lost his life,” she said. “I believe the time has come that we walk from where he lost his life to this park, which is a place where we can celebrate. When the time comes that justice is served, when those that were involved in this heinous crime are brought to justice, that’s a time when we’ll be able to really celebrate.”

Until then, Sandy says the support is very much appreciated and somehow “makes it just a little bit easier.”

Requests from the defense attorney for a continuance was denied. The trial of Deshawn Campbell is scheduled to start Dec. 7.