A public memorial service Friday honored San Jose Police Department community service officer Long Tham Pham, who was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver earlier this month.
The funeral service for Pham, 34, took place at SAP Center in San Jose, where hundreds of uniformed officers, city and state dignitaries, friends and family members were in attendance. The department held processions to and from the venue.
The most emotional speakers were Pham’s fellow community service officers (CSOs), including one who found out Pham’s mother ran a popular beauty salon.
"I said, 'Your mom has cut my mom’s hair for many years,'" CSO Loretta Terry said. "And he looked at me amusingly and I said, ‘Do you know what this means? This means we’re related,' and I said, ‘You are my cousin.'' And he enthusiastically said, ‘Yeah!'”
"This guy is always smiling," CSO Rene Toledo added. "It wasn’t always a full on grin. It was more of a happy look of contentment."
Acting police Chief Paul Joseph said it was family that helped motivate Pham.
"Every night after work Long would come home and share stories from his day, recounting even the smallest details with enthusiasm," Joseph said. "His favorite thing in the world was spending time with his family.”
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Mayor Matt Mahan recalled a chat with Pham.
"He was so excited to be in a position to help others and give back to the city in which he was raised," Mahan said.
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Pham’s family had a collective message to share.
"The Pham family has asked me to convey their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support you have shown through these difficult times," Sgt. Tam Truong, a family friend, said.
On Aug. 3, Pham and another community service officer were conducting traffic control on Monterey Road in South San Jose when a driver hit both of them, killing Pham and injuring the other CSO, identified as Veronica Baer.
Pham died at the scene, and Baer was taken to a hospital, where she remained for days in critical but stable condition.
Police arrested 44-year-old Juan Palacios of Morgan Hill on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter. Palacios has previous DUI charges on his record, police said.
Pham, who became a community service officer in October 2022, is the first CSO in the department’s history to be killed in the line of duty, SJPD said.
