Dear Supporters and Donors,

2023 was an important year for the San Jose Police Foundation with our Spring Social, the highly successful Major Awards Ceremony and Gun Seizure Awards, strong fundraising to support department and community initiatives, and the launch of college scholarships for children of department members, among many other activities.

As we have now brought 2023 to a close and as we enter into the promise of 2024, the board thanks you all for your strong support and confidence in our work. It is our privilege to serve our community and the police department to help keep San Jose safe.

Please enjoy browsing this newsletter and be sure to check out the inspirational mentions of key donors this past quarter – a feature we will include in future newsletters.

Happy New Year!

• Christmas Meals for Officers/Staff
• Gun Seizure Awards
• Baker to Vegas Running Team Support
• Evergreen High School Women’s Wrestli[ng Team Support
• Major Awards Ceremony Award Summaries and Sponsor Recognition
• #GivingTuesday Campaign
• Donor Profiles
  • Omar Habbas, The Habbas Law Firm
  • Matt Gingery
  • The Rademaker Family Foundation
  • Community Member
• “In Honor of/In Memory of” Donations
• Looking Forward…

Christmas Meals for Officers/Staff

Continuing a long-standing practice, the foundation organized meals for each of the patrol shifts and other staff working on Christmas Day. Several board members and their families attended briefings to thank the department for their work and officers were very kind in their expression of appreciation for having a meal provided that they could take with them out into the field. We are very grateful to our partners who provided food or funding to make this Christmas Day meal a success:

• Medina’s Catering – breakfast burritos
• Lee’s Sandwiches – sandwiches
• Downtown San Jose Marriott Hotel – pastries, bagels, cookies, and water
• Team San Jose/Convention Center – pastries, bagels, cookies, and water
• Starbucks, Monterey Highway and Lewis Road – pastries
• DoubleTree Hotel – DoubleTree’s “world famous” chocolate chip cookies
• Westgate Church – funding for meals

Gun Seizure Award Dinner

On October 5th, the police department recognized officers for their work seizing illegal firearms. The foundation, through the complete and sole underwriting by board member Anthony Ortega and his business, SecureTech Fence Systems, helped the police department present the 2023 Gun Seizure Awards. This program recognizes officers who, while conducting self-initiated activities, apprehend suspects and seize firearms, thus helping to improve the safety and quality of life for the residents of the city of San Jose.

This year’s awards recognized 40 officers whose work resulted in 254 guns being seized from San Jose streets. 11% of the seized firearms were loaded with high-capacity magazines. 24% of the guns were un-serialized “ghost guns” (firearms assembled either from kits or parts without any manufacturer’s identification to permit tracing of ownership). 10% of the firearms seized were assault weapons. In addition, large quantities of drugs (methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and fentanyl) were also located in many of these cases.

Baker to Vegas Running Team Support

Each March, the department participates in a 20-person 120-mile Law Enforcement relay race. In 2023, the team took first place in its division, beating out everyone including many Southern California powerhouses. For 2024, the foundation is supporting the team with a $2,800 donation to purchase team running jackets, reflective vests for nighttime runners, and professional magnetic signs for the rented support vans to professionalize the appearance of the team and its vehicles. This event is an important morale and team building activity for officers who may not see each other frequently due to differing shift schedules. San Jose’s strong showing serves to “brand” the department across the California law enforcement community and enhances the department’s recruitment efforts, especially those focusing on experienced officers from other agencies.

120 miles of pavement, 20 stages, over 10,000 runners, guests, family members, and support staff. Hot days and cold nights.  Blood. Sweat. Pride. Honor…..

That’s what the world’s most prestigious and unique law enforcement foot race is all about.  Starting in Baker, California and ending in Las Vegas, Nevada, law enforcement officers from around the globe battle it out every Spring for the chance of winning the coveted cup trophy.

Evergreen High School Women’s Wrestling Team Support

The foundation provided $500 in community partnership funding to support the Evergreen High School Women’s Wrestling Team. This request was initiated by a member of the department who recognizes the hard work of the women in their athletic pursuits and knows that women in this program might consider a career in law enforcement in the future. We wish them great success with their competitive season and look forward to highlighting one or more of them as recruit officers in the academy in the future! Watch this 3-minute video and you’ll see why we would be proud to have any of them join the department to keep San Jose safe. https://youtu.be/OfpezLbl8B8?si=UWt5RIeKNnNdF_9s

Major Awards Ceremony and Award Summaries

On October 26th, the foundation presented the 2023 Major Awards Ceremony honoring 84 department and community members for their bravery, initiative, generosity, and life-saving efforts. This inspirational evening was held at The DoubleTree Hotel in front of 500 honorees, family members, guests, and sponsors. Our sincere thanks to our many generous sponsors who made this our most successful event ever.

The Police Foundation board with Chief Tony Mata (right side)

Selected Award Summaries

While all the many awards presented at the ceremony deserve broad recognition and mention here, we have selected a small number to include in this newsletter so that you can appreciate just how impressive this ceremony is. Please keep an eye out for the 2024 ceremony announcement so that you can plan to join us in person!

Outstanding Police Duty Award

Awarded to Officer Nicole Jize, Officer Patrick Baldassari, and Officer Mark Minten

“On October 16th, 2020, a shooting of five victims and a double homicide occurred in San José.  The investigation revealed that members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization were the primary suspects. Metro Officer Minten, Metro Officer Jize and Metro Officer/DEA Task Force Officer Baldassari investigated suspects involved in the large-scale distribution of illegal narcotics. Metro officers and DEA agents conducted surveillance, prepared, and executed search warrants. Numerous investigative stops were made resulting in arrests which lead to additional leads directly related to the homicide. On January 19th, 2022, numerous search warrants were obtained and executed. Officers seized 27 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 pounds of cocaine, 4 pounds of heroin, counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, one gallon of liquid methamphetamine, $140,000, a high-powered rifle and handguns. On February 4th, 2022, two additional search warrants were executed. Officers located 26 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 pounds of cocaine, 1,000 counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and $15,000. Homicide investigators were able to use the information to further and strengthen the homicide case. On February 21st, 2022, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office filed various charges including homicide on five suspects. You are hereby recognized and awarded for your outstanding diligence and proactive collaborative efforts which resulted in the large seizure of narcotics and the arrest of five dangerous suspects.”

Richard Huerta Special Merit Award

Awarded to: Lieutenant John Barg, Lieutenant Jesus Mendoza, Sergeant Kasey Padia, Sergeant Chau Pham, Sergeant Ismael Serrano, Officer Chris Bergstrom, Officer Kyle Burchfiel, Officer Rafael Cortez, Officer Hector Gonzalez, Officer Gavin Leonard, Officer Simeon Merid and Officer Bret Moiseff

“During 2022 and 2023, the members of the Burglary Prevention Unit (BPU) proactively utilized specialized investigative techniques and covert surveillance to apprehend semi-organized crime crews, recover stolen property, and target the most active and prolific criminals in San José. During this time, BPU members initiated several investigations that resulted in the recovery of $1.5 million worth of stolen property that included: high end bicycles, power tools, jewelry, stolen vehicles, stolen motorcycle, narcotics, stolen guns including assault rifles, ammunition, and privately manufactured ghost guns in various stages of assembly all taken during commercial and residential burglaries. BPU personnel apprehended members of a burglary crew that were responsible for the thefts of ATM machines, cash registers, and merchandise from over three dozen commercial burglaries. This arrest of four suspects alone resulted in the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office filing over 130 criminal counts that carry up to 12 years of imprisonment. All these investigations required countless hours and relentless tenacity which demonstrated the day-to-day excellence of each member of this unit. For your exemplary leadership, teamwork, initiative, investigative skills, follow-up investigations, and commitment to public safety, you are hereby recognized and awarded the Richard Huerta Special Merit Award.”

Outstanding Police Duty Award

Awarded to: Captain Brandon Sanchez, Lieutenant Jesse Aragon, Sergeant Julien Taylor, Sergeant Rafael Varela, Officer Efraim Contreras, Officer Amanda Estantino, Officer Jesse Hernandez, Officer Arturo Mendoza, Officer Daren Reinke, Officer Eddie Reyes, Officer Chris Santistevan, Officer Todd Wellman and Officer Catherine Van Brande. SJPD Special Merit Award to Forensic Analyst Joe Incorvaia, Systems App-Programmer Ethan Smith and Office Specialist Yanira Zuniga

“On 04/25/2022, at 1248 hours, a kidnapping of a 3-month-old infant occurred from an apartment on Elm Street. The Robbery Unit and CDIC personnel responded to the scene to direct patrol’s actions and assumed responsibility of the investigation. The Robbery Unit conducted interviews, followed up on leads and authored warrants. CDIC personnel conducted open-source searches for leads. Through follow up investigation, multiple suspects were identified and search warrant executions were coordinated with CRU and MERGE. In less than 19 hours after the kidnapping, the infant was located unharmed and the suspects were taken into custody. After medical clearance, the infant was re-united with his mother. During the search warrants, numerous items of evidentiary value were located, which implicated the suspects and the pre-meditation involved in the kidnapping. Robbery detectives were able to obtain full confessions from the suspects. All suspects pled guilty in court and are awaiting sentencing. You are hereby recognized and awarded for your extensive follow-up investigation and relentless pursuit of rescuing and reuniting a kidnapped 3-month-old infant with his family.”

George W. Kennedy Excellence in Prosecution Award

Awarded to Supervising Deputy District Attorney Michel Amaral

“Between September 27th and 28th, 2017, four armed home invasions occurred in Milpitas, South San Francisco, Fremont and San Jose. Five armed suspects would enter an apartment, bind the occupants and take their cash and property. On three of the four home invasions, the suspects violently assaulted the female victims. The fourth home invasion occurred on February 28th in the City of San Jose. During this home invasion, the suspects shot a victim who tried to flee. That victim was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Five of the suspects were identified and all were from southern California. All of the suspects were arrested in Los Angeles County. Evidence including the murder weapon were recovered. All of the crimes and suspects would be prosecuted in Santa Clara County. Deputy District Attorney Amaral assumed sole responsibility for the prosecution of the case. He subpoenaed over 80 witnesses and called 48 witnesses to testify. The jury trial lasted six months and concluded on November 15, 2022. The jury determined the defendants were all major participants in the crime who acted together with reckless indifference to human life. They were found guilty of first-degree murder, robbery, forcible sexual assault charges, and assault with a deadly weapon. Supervising Deputy District Attorney Amaral, for your extraordinary expertise, tireless work ethic, and professionalism, you are hereby recognized and awarded the George W. Kennedy Excellence in Prosecution Award.”

Ross Donald Good Person Award

Awarded to Mr. Christopher Watts

“On May 26, 2021, SJPD units were priority dispatched to an active shooter at the VTA Maintenance Yard. SJPD Communications advised that there were six to eight people shot and that the suspect was on foot somewhere in the VTA Maintenance Yard. Officers entered the VTA yard and utilized a rail car as cover on the east side of building “A” when SJPD Communications advised the shooter was on the third floor. An officer located a stairwell leading up to the third floor. Christopher Watts, a VTA employee, was at the top of the stairwell and called out to the contact team and said he could lead them to the shooter. He led them to a hallway and said the shooter could be at the end of the hallway near the control room. The contact team entered the hallway when the sound of gunfire rang out. They subsequently located the shooter deceased around the corner at the end of the hallway. Mr. Watts recounted that he heard the sound of gunfire, looked out the window, and saw several co-workers taking cover on the rooftop. Mr. Watts did a quick headcount and noticed one of his co-workers was unaccounted for. At risk of losing his own life and without regard for his own safety, Mr. Watts remained on the floor to assist others by waiting for law enforcement’s arrival. Mr. Watts’ decision to remain inside allowed officers to quickly isolate and locate the shooter, preventing further loss of life. You are hereby recognized and awarded for your bravery and immediate actions.”

Thank you once again to our many sponsors!

#GivingTuesday Campaign

In November, the foundation participated in #GivingTuesday, raising nearly $6,000. This marked a dramatic increase in donor support compared to 2022. We are very grateful to each of our donors who made this campaign such a success! Our #GivingTuesday donors and any expressed designation are:

Anthony Ortega

Frank Swaringen (Canine Unit)

Garden City Construction

Jim and Lorraine Moorman (Scholarships)

Linda White

Madeline Bradley (Canine Unit)

Michael Kihmm

Paul Gardner

Scott Seaman (History of Policing)

Sean O’Kane (Major Awards Ceremony),

Sharon Anello

Tracey Enfantino

4 Anonymous Donors (Canine Unit and Major Awards Ceremony)

Donor Profiles

Omar Habbas, The Habbas Law Firm – College Scholarship Support

Immediately following the conclusion of the Major Awards Ceremony, Mr. Omar Habbas of the Habbas Law Firm approached Executive Director Ted Trujillo and informed him that he was so moved by the ceremony that he wanted to donate to support the foundation’s scholarship program for children of department members. In November, Mr. Habbas attended the board meeting and presented the foundation with a check for $20,000. The foundation deeply appreciates Mr. Habbas’s generosity and committed support of this meaningful and highly impactful program.

Matt Gingery – History of Policing Course

Matt Gingery is Partner at Bay West Development and the son of retired San Jose PD sergeant Bob Gingery. Mr. Gingery approached the foundation with an interest to donate to support the department in recognition of his father’s prior service. Mr. Gingery attended the December board meeting with his father and presented the foundation with a $20,000 check to be used to support the police department’s innovative “History of Policing” course which teaches all new police academy graduates about critical community perception issues they must consider as they prepare to work with the public. The foundation is deeply grateful to Mr. Gingery for his generous support of this important program and moved by his recognition of his father’s work with this donation.

The Rademaker Family Foundation – Police Canine Funding

The foundation supports the police department’s canine program with funding for the purchase of up to two canines each year. This fund has recently been expended and needed to be restored. The department has funding for one canine in its budget but will be replacing three canines in May due to unexpected vacancies. In December, the foundation received a very generous grant of $20,000 from the Rademaker Family Foundation to fully fund the two additional canines. Thank you to the Rademaker family for their very generous and timely donation!

Community Member – Donation “In Honor Of”

In December, just ahead of Christmas, a woman moved to a new home in Willow Glen with her autistic son. Unfamiliar with the new neighborhood, her son went for a walk as he had frequently done at their former home. When he didn’t return, the mother called the police department for help. Patrol officers, detectives, and command staff each became involved as it became evident that her son was at serious risk. The department created alerts, posted on social media, generated news media coverage, and spent many hours searching for the boy. Almost 24 hours later, because someone had seen the coverage and called police, the boy was located almost 6 miles away at a major shopping center and was reunited with his mother. In deep appreciation of the department’s efforts on behalf of her son, the mother donated $2,000 to the foundation. The board thanks this community member so very much for her generosity and recognition of the department’s efforts.

“In Honor of/In Memory of” Donations

In the spirit of the recent holidays, and as we saw with the donation above by Mr. Matt Gingery and the community member, we have expanded our donation options to now allow for designation of gifts “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone. This can now be used by any donor who wishes to recognize a family member who is currently serving on the department, a department member(s) who made a special effort on their behalf, or a retired member of the department, or who want to give a gift in memory of someone special, whether they are a department member or not.

Looking Forward

The board is using the first part of 2024 to renew our strategic focus for the year and beyond. We will be keeping you informed of our work in future periodic updates. We look forward to engaging with you at our next social gathering!

Thank you again for your support. Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who you believe would enjoy learning more about our work. 

Scott Seaman

President

Ted Trujillo

Executive Director