Summer 2009 - NorCal COPS

Northern California Cops Chapter
141 Raymundo Drive, Woodside, CA 94062
Vol. 3
NUMBER 3
NorCal C.O.P.S. Chapter
covers all of the
Law Enforcement Agencies
in Northern California
In the event of an In Line of Duty
death, Northern California C.O.P.S.
Chapter will be there to help the
families and co-workers through
their troubled times.
We offer emotional support and
we will do whatever it takes to get
the family back on its feet.
Our family of survivors increased
by four in 2008 and already it has
increased by four more in 2009.
We are non-profit and are supported only by donations from police agencies and private donors.
If your organization can hold a
charity event such as a
bike ride, 5K run, cake
walk or anything to help
us raise funds please
feel free to contact
President Sandy Fontana at 650-851-2361.
GENERAL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 19
OAKLAND POA
555 5TH ST., OAKLAND
510-834-9670
COME AND MEET YOUR
NEW BOARD!
SUMMER 2009
NORCAL C.O.P.S. ANNUAL PICNIC
Annual Picnic Brings Families Together
The Northern California COPS
Chapter hosted a picnic for
survivors’ families and friends on
Saturday, June 27th. The picnic was
held at Shadow Cliffs Recreational
Park in Pleasanton where families
socialized together around the
jumphouse, at the bar-be-que, and
some even at the water slides.
President Tammy Monego and
Trustee Mitch Mueller along with
incoming Vice President Stephanie
Miller planned a great afternoon for
everyone. Even though the weather
topped one hundred degrees, there
was enough shade to keep cool.
Some of the kids went for a swim
in the lake and a water balloon toss
quickly turned into a water balloon
fight. Local law enforcement officers
stopped by on their shifts to say hi
and have some hamburgers and hot
dogs with the group.
After lunch, elections were held for
the Northern California COPS
Board. All nominations were
unanimous and the following
officers were elected for a two-year
term:
Sandy Fontana, President
Stephanie Miller, Vice President
Tami McMillan, Secretary
Vicky Olivera, Treasurer
page 2
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
Message from the President
Chapter Contacts
I would like to take this time to thank all the Board Members for their
time and dedication the last two years.
President
As I assume the Office of President of NorCal C.O.P.S. I ask all of
you for your support and patience. I am following in some rather large
footsteps, Toni MacDonald and Tammy Monego.
These two ladies have kept our Chapter going for the last few years.
They have both served on the executive board for more years than
should be asked of anyone! Without them, we would not have a chapter in Northern California! I know that this group has helped my family
and me through the most difficult time in our lives. Having Toni and Jim
to talk to and see that they actually survived and were functioning human beings after losing Jimmy gave us hope and strength. Seeing
Tammy lead this group and raising a fine young man like Dominic also
gave us strength.
Now, I ask every person reading this Newsletter to think about what
you would like out of NorCal Chapter of C.O.P.S. as well as the National Organization. We have a circulation of near 700 newsletters
that go out to families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty, yet
we only have a handful of people who show up to our meetings! I challenge all of you to step up and be there for new families of Fallen Officers. Maybe you can assist a new widow, or a parent that has lost a
child, what about an in-law? Are you a mother or father-in-law that might
be able to help an in -law so they can help their child and maybe their
grandchildren?
Please let your new Executive board, Stephanie Miller, Tami McMillan,
Vicky Olivera, Tammy Monego or me or the current Trustees, Mitch
Mueller or Carol Espinoza, know what you would like to see; speakers
at our meetings, more visibility in the community, more family functions
or more fund raising events? WHAT DO YOU THINK WE NEED?
SUMMER 2009
REMEMBER, WE CAN ONLY BE AS GOOD AS
Sandy Fontana
[email protected]
650-851-2361
Vice President
Stephanie Miller
[email protected]
209-747-4492
Treasurer
Vicky Olivera
[email protected]
415-595-7447
Secretary
Tami McMillan
[email protected]
650-255-5721
Immediate Past President
Tammy Monego
[email protected]
925-216-9812
Law Enforcement Liason
Trustee
Captain Mitch Mueller
[email protected]
925-828-0466
Peer Support Trustee
Carol Espinoza
[email protected]
650-756-6738
OUR MEMBERS ALLOW US TO BE,
Newsletter
STEP UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Barry Lependorf
[email protected]
Sandy Fontana
President, NorCal COPS
Webmaster
Craig Conley
[email protected]
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
page 3
Chapter Meetings & Events
August 21, 2009
2nd Annual Officer John P. Miller Memorial Golf Tournament
Sunol Valley Golf Club
August 29 - 30, 2009
The Sixth Annual Officer Isaac Espinoza Softball Tournament
Location: TBA
September 19, 2009
GENERAL MEETING
Peer Support Group Meeting
Oakland POA
October 10 & 11, 2009
5th Annual C.O.P.S. Walk
November 7, 2009
GENERAL MEETING
Peer Support Group Meeting
December 5, 2009
Northern California C.O.P.S. Christmas Party
CHP Academy, W. Sacramento
February 8, 2009
GENERAL MEETING
Peer Support Group Meeting
April 17, 2009
GENERAL MEETING
Peer Support Group Meeting
We Thank our Donors for their support!
San Jose POA
Oakland Police Department
In Memory of
Dunakin, Hege, Romans & Sakai
HRobert Tucknott
390 Club - CHP Dublin Area
Memory of Deputy John P. Monego
Concerns of Police Survivors
provides resources to assist in the
rebuilding of the lives of surviving
families and affected co-workers
of law enforcement officers killed
in the Line of Duty as determined
by Federal criteria.
Futhermore, C.O.P.S. provides
training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of
the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.
NEWSLETTER
CONTRIBUTIONS
WELCOMED AND
NEEDED!
We encourage you to send in a letter, picture, article, poem, announcements, etc. Let us know what is happening with your family and coworker
survivors:
births,
deaths,
graduastions, weddings, promotions,
honors and memorial services. If you
are not a writer, simply submit the
facts and we will take it from there.
Send to:
Toni Mac Donald
[email protected]
SUMMER 2009
Timothy Bergquest
C.O.P.S.
MISSION
STATEMENT
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
page 4
NorCal Family News
Deputy Sheriff Sandra Lee Larson
Sacramento County Sheriff
EOW: December 8, 1998
Grace Lee and baby sister Faith Christine Crable (born 8-6-08)
granddaughters of Deputy Sandra Larson EOW 12-08-98. She
would have spoiled them rotten. New grandma is doing a good at
that.
Virginia Rudkin
PEER SUPPORT
GROUP MEETINGS
You are invited to join our
peer support group for
C.O.P.S. members.
Meetings are facilitated by
NorCal C.O.P.S. trustee Carol
Espinoza, mother of Officer
Isaac Espinoza, San Francisco Police Department.
The group is open to all
C.O.P.S. survivors. If you have
any questions, please contact:
SUMMER 2009
Carol Espinoza
[email protected]
WHEN:
Before the General Meeting
Christine & Todd
Lyle
Christine was the finance of Scott Greenly,
San Jose CHP officer,
killed in the line of duty
EOW: January 7,
1998.
Christine works as a
dispatcher for the San
Jose P.D. and Todd is
a Park Ranger in Fremont.
Christine's family of
survivors are so happy
that she and Todd met
and had a beautiful
wedding in Hawaii
On June 26, 2009, Christine was involved in a head-on accident
on her way home from work. She received a broken nose along
with neck and back injuries. We at NorCal C.O.P.S. are hoping for
a speedy recovery from her injuries.
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
page 5
NorCal Family News
COPS Walk 2009
October 10 - 11
2 DAYS - 25 MILES
Six of the NorCal Widows in Washington DC, from left: Lynn Russell,
Michelle Walker, Tammy Monego, Stephanie Miller, Cathy Clearman
and Toni Sanders.
The 5th annual COPS WALK will
bring together survivors, friends and
members of the law enforcement
community who are willing to take
on the challenge of walking 25 miles
in two days to support Concerns of
Police Survivors. DynCorp is the
lead sponsor for the 2009 event.
We thank them for their continued
support.The walk is designed to
provide participants with a physical
challenge as well as an opportunity
to spend time with other survivors
and friends, walking in memory of
loved ones. For more information
on COPS Walk call the National
Office at 573-346-4911 or visit
www.nationalcops.org.
SFPD Ofc. Nick Birco
Memorial Event
Jennifer Walker, Cody Lasater and Amanda Walker were enjoying the
picnic in Washington, DC.
Holly C. Birco
SUMMER 2009
Please join the Birco Family to
honor and remember SFPD Officer
Nick T. Birco on Sunday, July 26,
2009 at 7:00 pm.
The memorial will be held at
BayView Station (SFPD)
201 Williams Court
San Francisco, CA
Three years ago, Officer Nick
Birco was killed in the line of duty.
On the morning of July 26 Officer
Birco’s cruiser was struck by a stolen van after the suspects had committed armed robbery. The three
suspects were arrested and are
being charged with 1st degree murder. Trials are pending and court
dates have not been scheduled.
We ask for your prayers and support. God Bless You.
page 6
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
SUMMER 2009
NORCAL COPS
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
page 7
ANNUAL PICNIC
SUMMER 2009
page 8
norcal c.o.p.s.
SUMMER 2009
Special Events
chapter newsletter
norcal c.o.p.s.
chapter newsletter
page 9
Special Events
Tenderloin Officers Run for COPS Fundraiser
by: Angela Wilhelm, Tenderloin Station
On Saturday, May 9, 2009 nine members
of Tenderloin Station and one honorary
member participated in the First Annual
California Peace Officers Memorial Run
held at Shadow Cliffs Park in Pleasanton.
The course was mainly comprised of trails
and rolling hills.
The event was sponsored by the California Peace Officers’Association Region II.
The mission of the COPS organization is
DATE
W
E
N
09
0
2
,
1
2
T
US
G
U
A
,
Y
A
FRID
JOHN P. MILLER
MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
BENEFITING:
CHP
11-99
FOUNDATION
NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA
C.O.P.S.
Friday, August 21, 2009
at SUNOL VALLEY GOLF CLUB
COST: $125 PER PERSON
(INCLUDES LUNCH, GOLF, CART, TEE PRIZES AND DINNER )
HOLE SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
10 am - Check In 12 Noon - Shotgun Start
5 pm - Auction, Dinner & Awards
* Friends & Family
* Members of Tenderloin Station
* Members of the Honda Unit
* Members of the Specialist Team
* Cold Stone Creamery San Francisco
* Cold Stone Creamery San Bruno
* Tri-Bros. Investments
* San Francisco Police Officers Assn.
SUMMER 2009
MORE INFORMATION: 390 Squad Club at 925-828-0466
[email protected]
to assist with the rebuilding of lives of surviving family members and affected coworkers of law enforcement officers killed
in the line of duty.
There were runners from Oakland Police Department honoring their fallen comrades and runners that made the trip from
Roseville. There were officers pushing
strollers and K-9 dogs dragging their handlers.
As the temperature rose and runners began to tire, our honorary member and first
time 10K runner, Amy Edelberg, started to
fall behind. I reminded Amy that despite
the heat and frustration, we were there to
support family members and friends of
officers who would never be coming home.
Just then I saw a woman ahead of us who
was wearing an "Isaac would go." T-shirt. I
told Amy the story of Isaac Espinoza and
his family that was left behind. We caught
up to the runner and I told her that she was
wearing an honorable shirt and inquired if
she was a family member of Isaac. She
told us that Isaac was her husband. As I
looked at the woman's face I recognized
Renatta and told her what a great honor it
was to be able to run with her at today's
event. Renatta told us that that this was
her first 10K and she too was having a
tough run. The three of us ran together and
as we left the trail entering back into the
park area, Renatta had found some energy and started sprinting towards the finish line. On the final turn, we passed a
large group of cheering people wearing
Isaac shirts and a little girl yelling, "Go
Mommy!" At that moment I realized we were
all winners in today's race and being able
to honor our fallen heroes was bigger than
any medal being handed out.
In addition to participating in the event,
the Tenderloin Rats raised $2910 that
was donated to the Northern California
chapter of COPS. The Rats would like to
thank the following people and businesses for their donations:
page 10
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
In The Line of Duty - 2009
Sergeant Curtis Massey
Culver City Police Department
EOW:January 28, 2009
Sergeant Greg Hernandez
Tulare County Sheriff
EOW:February 6, 2009
Sergeant Mark Dunakin
Oakland Police Department
EOW: March 21, 2009
Sergeant Ervin Romans
Oakland Police Department
EOW: March 21, 2009
Sergeant Daniel Sakai
Oakland Police Department
EOW: March 21, 2009
Police Officer John Hege
Oakland Police Department
EOW: March 23, 2009
SUMMER 2009
Surviving family members are
automatically included in
Northern California C.O.P.S.
Inclusion in C.O.P.S. is automatic for surviving family members and co-workers. There are
no dues and we do not solicit donations from
the survivors we serve. Therefore, we’re dependent on the generosity of friends to finance our
activities.
Anger makes
you smaller,
while forgiveness
forces you to
grow beyond
what you were.
Cherie Carter-Scott
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
Trial
Updates
7 1/2 Year Trial for Ofc Jeffrey Fontana over
Police Officer Jeffrey Fontana
San Jose Police Department, CA
EOW: October 28, 2001
corrected the attorneys if they
misspoke, and even used words like
discombobulate.. “he was going to
discombobulate the prosecution” and
when the DA asked if knew what it meant
he told us yes, it means to confuse!” Is
he really mildly mentally retarded??? I
DON’T THINK SO! While Campbell was
on the witness stand the defense was
allowed to have an expert in the
courtroom so he could explain
Campbell’s condition to the jury. This
expert, Dr. Greenspan, said Campbell
had the capabilities of a 10 – 12 year
old! The DA was able to utterly destroy
the credibility of this so called expert!
After 12 weeks and 18 hours (I think)
of closing arguments it went to the jury
on Friday, May 15th. We waited and
waited anxiously until May 27 when we
got the call that the verdict was in. We
raced to San Jose and were met with a
FULL courtroom and hallway (thank you
to everyone who was there with us).The
verdict was given to the judge who had
the
court
clerk
read
the
verdicts…GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS!
The system that Jeffrey believed in
worked and JUSTICE WAS FINALLY
SERVED 7 ½ YEARS AFTER THE
MURDER.
We want to thank everyone who
prayed for Jeffrey and us and kept us in
your thoughts.
Trial for Killer of
Officer Rich May
Postponed Again
For more than three years my
family has been attending various
court dates to listen to the defense
seek ridiculous and insulting
motions. When we left court on
Thursday afternoon March 19th we
were ecstatic that jury selection was
finally going to begin on the following
Monday. Jury summons had been
sent to 840 prospective jurors.
Unfortunately, the worse thing
imaginable occurred on Saturday
March 21st when the lives of four
Oakland Police Officers were
ruthlessly taken by a parolee.
On Monday morning the judge
called the attorneys back to his
chamber and then returned to the
courtroom to let us know that jury
selection could not begin as
planned. As painful as it was, we as
a family completely understood the
judge’s decision. It would be highly
unlikely to get an unbiased jury with
all of the media coverage of the
shooting and impending funeral for
the Oakland officers.
Jury selection is set to resume in
August. While we have been joined
in court by various friends and
family members, the Estrogen
Brigade, as we call ourselves, has
been constant. Sitting in the
courtroom next to me is always, my
mom, sister, and sister-in-law. We
will again be there in force in August
waiting for my brother’s killer to
receive the highest penalty possible
in the state of California: death.
Tami McMillan
Sister of East Palo Alto Police
Officer Rich May, EOW 1/7/06
SUMMER 2009
After 7 1/2/ years the trial for Jeffrey
Fontana finally began and would last
nearly 14 weeks including deliberation.
The District Attorney decided to go for
second degree murder instead of first
degree and we thought we had an
agreement with the defense that the
accused killers “mild mental retardation”
would not come into the trial. During
opening statements, the defense
conceded all the counts except that his
client pulled the trigger that killed Jeffrey
( they said it was someone named
Rodney McNeary). The defense attorney
said it was Campbell’s car, Campbell’s
gun, he was a felon in possession of a
firearm and he had 2 warrants out for
his arrest. Oh yeah, and “he” was “mildly
mentally retarded”. The DA was out of
his seat like a shot out of a cannon with
an objection….the defense said they
could bring this in because they were
going to put the defendant on the witness
stand!!! And they did!
During the first few days/weeks (they
all ran together) there were at least 3
witnesses that “could not remember” due
to head injuries! The Defense was
actually “trying” Rodney while the DA’s
Office was prosecuting DeShawn
Campbell. It was very confusing and
caused me many sleepless nights. The
defense brought in a Gang Expert ( an X
cop who now testifies for the defense!)
to prove that Rodney was a Gang
Member. The DA asked this “Expert” if
a person went to a validated gang
members house, socialized with him,
drank with him, did drugs with him,
played football with him what would you
think? The Expert said he would say
that person was also a Gang
Member…..the DA said thank you, you
just said the defendant is a gang
member!!!!! (Yeah, Lane)
When the defense put Campbell on
the witness stand they reminded
everyone that he was mildly mentally
retarded……Campbell was a good
witness (even though he lied), he spoke
clearly, answered all questions,
page 11
norcal c.o.p.s. chapter newsletter
page 12
Alameda County Police Officers Memorial
On May 6, 2009, the First Annual
Alameda County Peace Officers’
Memorial Ceremony was held.
The monument is located in the
Lone Tree cemetery in Hayward.
The ceremony was officiated by
Captain Mitch Mueller, President of
the Alameda County Chief’s of Police and Sheriff’s Association.
After the Presentation of Colors
and the National Anthem, several
dignitaries including our own President Tammy Monego spoke at the
ceremony. Then came the Roll Call
Reading, Placing of the Memorial
Wreath, Gun Salute and Closing
Prayer.
The event was also attended by
Vice-President Stephanie Miller and
Dublin CHP Senior Volunteer Barry
Lependorf.
Northern California Cops Chapter
Concerns of Police Survivors
141 Raymundo Drive, Woodside, CA 94062
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