San Jose Police Department, CA
Home MenuFallen Officers
“The Monument”
By Sgt. George Hahn, L.A.P.D.
(Retired)
I never dreamed it would be me
My name for all eternity
Recorded here at this hallowed place
Alas, my name, no more my face
“In the line of duty” I hear them say
My family now the price will pay
My folded flag stained with their tears
We only had those few short years
The badge no longer on my chest
I sleep now in eternal rest
My sword I pass to those behind
And pray they keep this thought in mind
I never dreamed it would be me
And with heavy heart and bended knee
I ask for all here from the past
Dear God, let my name be the last
Fallen Police Officers
Sgt. Morris Van Dyck Hubbard
End of Watch: July 12, 1924
Killed July 12, 1924 by a hostage-taking gunman in a close range shoot-out.
Officer John Buck
End of Watch: April 5, 1933
Died April 5, 1933 from gunshot wounds suffered five weeks earlier while attempting to apprehend armed robbery suspects in a car.
Officer John Covalesk
End of Watch: November 15, 1950
Killed November 15, 1950 shot by an armed burglar who Covalesk had detected in the process of a business burglary.
Officer Richard Huerta
End of Watch: August 6, 1970
Killed August 6, 1970 by gunshots from a pedestrian intent to randomly assassinate any officer he encountered that evening.
Officer Robert White
Date of Birth: July 13, 1959
Date Appointed:October 25, 1982
End of Watch: January 27, 1985
Killed January 27, 1985 by electrocution while investigating an accident in which a motorist struck a high-voltage transformer.
Officer Henry Bunch
Date of Birth: January 7, 1952
Date Appointed: September 12, 1980
End of Watch: July 29, 1985
Killed July 29, 1985 by an intoxicated arrestee who wrestled the officer’s weapon away and shot him.
Officer Robert Wirht
Date of Birth: August 19, 1945
Date Appointed: September 12, 1980
End of Watch: September 8, 1988
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 Simpson
Date of Birth: May 15, 1943
Date Appointed: September 1, 1969
End of Watch: January 20, 1989
Killed January 20, 1989 by a mentally ill pedestrian who wrestled and obtained the officer’s handgun and shot him.
Officer Gordon Silva
Date of Birth: November 24, 1949
Date Appointed: May 3, 1971
End of Watch: January 20, 1989
Killed January 20, 1989 by gunfire in the same firefight with the mentally ill pedestrian who had just mortally assaulted Officer Simpson.
Officer Desmond Casey
Date of Birth: May 19, 1961
Date Appointed: April 3, 1989
End of Watch: October 25, 1999
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
Date of Birth: May 13, 1977
Date Appointed: January 8, 2001
End of Watch: October 28, 2001
Killed October 28, 2001 by gunshot from suspicious motorists on whom he had just initiated a vehicle stop for follow-up criminal investigation.
Officer Michael J. Johnson
Date of Birth: December 4, 1976
Date Appointed: January 8, 2001
End of Watch: March 24, 2015
Killed March 24, 2015 — gunned down while responding to a welfare check on a subject threatening to kill himself and others.
Officer Michael J. Katherman
Date of Birth: October 18, 1981
Date Appointed: July 3, 2005
End of Watch: June 14, 2016
Killed June 14, 2016 — fatally injured when his police motorcycle collided with a minivan at North 10th and Horning streets.
Fallen Community Service Officers
Community Service Officer Long Pham
Date of Birth: November 28, 1989
Date Appointed: October 16, 2022
End of Watch: August 3, 2024
Killed August 3, 2024 — fatally injured when he was stuck by a drunk driver while out of his vehicle conducting traffic control in the area of Palm Avenue and Monterey Road in south San Jose.