San Jose Inside

This event is being held in loving memory of Vahid Hosseini and Officer Jeffrey Fontana. The purpose of this event is to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives due to a violent crime, fallen Police Officers, and Fire Fighters, and to support their loved ones.

Despite the recent violent crimes, we are still a very safe city. However, I think it is fair to ask if we are safe enough.  Many would say “no.” When three murders happen over one night; when four knifings happen within a couple of blocks downtown; when more and more people are concerned about the use of police resources in central San Jose; when our murders in one weekend approach Oakland’s, then it is time to carefully monitor the crime situation and make the correct assessments.

I was going to write about something completely different this week but my attention was caught by the incident this past weekend where two teenaged boys (16 and 17) were arrested for attacking a high school dance and a young woman’s sixteenth birthday party with homemade chemical bombs. Fortunately, it appears that there were no injuries or damage at the high school, but there easily could have been. However, the bomb tossed into the birthday party exploded in the birthday girl’s face, burning her skin and eyes. She and two of her friends were briefly hospitalized.  I can’t get the image of the peaceful and fun once-in-a-lifetime birthday party celebration disrupted by fright and injury out of my mind. What compelled these boys to do such a horrible thing?

You may have missed it, but recently the police forces of San Jose and other cities in Santa Clara County merged with the Sheriff’s Department to form one large and coordinated police unit. This new Metro-County Police Force will allow a level of service unequalled in local or even California history. It will be responsible to a 13-member board consisting of both elected officials and appointed citizens with a law enforcement background.