Ceremony Honors 40 Santa Clara Co. Officers Tragically Killed In Line Of Duty

A ceremony was held Friday afternoon in San Jose to remember 40 Santa Clara County officers killed in the line of duty.

A plaque for San Jose police Officer Michael Johnson was added to a memorial for fallen officers in front of the sheriff’s headquarters near West Younger and North First streets.

Johnson was shot and killed by an armed suspect on the evening of March 24 during a call for service. He was the first officer in the county to be killed in the line of duty in 14 years.

About two-dozen family members of the fallen officers attended Friday’s Santa Clara County Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony, where the sheriff’s honor guard unit raised the national, state and sheriff’s office flags to half-staff in front of the memorial and later held a 21-gun salute.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese said the loss of Johnson and other county officers is a reminder of the risks they take everyday.

“It often occurs to me that I’ve been a public servant, as a politician, as an elected official, for over 20 years,” Cortese said. “But even if I served another 20 years my own public service will pale in comparison to the heroism and public service of even one public safety officer, let alone who has given the ultimate sacrifice.”

State Assemblyman Kansen Chu, D-San Jose, said that as chairman of the state Assembly’s Human Services Committee, he is committed to help solve social problems to prevent tragedies such as what had happened to Johnson. The suspect who had shot Johnson was reported to be distraught and under the influence the evening he killed Johnson, according to police.

• Previous coverage:
• Suspect In Fatal SJ Officer Shooting Found Dead
• Memorial Service Set For Fallen SJPD Officer Michael Johnson

Chu acknowledged the difficulty officers face while on the job and wished them to stay safe while on duty. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith presented Johnson’s family with a copy of the Congressional Record with a statement remembering Johnson that Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, gave to the House of Representatives floor on April 14.

Many state, county and city officials attended today’s ceremony including State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, who also spoke at the event, and Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen.

A 40-second moment of silence was held in county communications and the name, badge number and last day of watch for each officer was read aloud by representatives of their respective agencies. The 40 officers honored today had served in the California Highway Patrol, Santa Clara County State Traffic Force, Santa Clara County sheriff’s office, Santa Clara police, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety and San Jose police.

The ceremony was held on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, an annual day of recognition for fallen officers proclaimed by former President John Kennedy in 1962.

--Bay City News

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