Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - to the Jurors of the Officer Richard May, Jr. murder trial, The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Redwood City Police Department.

To the amazing Jurors, thank you. Our family wishes you and your families a very Merry Christmas. We know you came to the courthouse many months ago with the expectation that you were either going home the same day, or probably spend one or two days on a simple trial. Instead, you completed a long and public murder trial of a Police Officer. We watched you every day. On the positive side, it was an educational experience. We all learned about real forensics. We learned how to match finger prints. We learned about spent bullets. We learned about gun ejection of shell casings. It is always amazing to see a piece of cloth that can stop a bullet. On the negative side, we all worried that the Defense Attorneys would be able to use “missing evidence” to convince you that Alberto Alvarez was innocent of Murder. You did not hear the words “Gang Member” during the trial because it might have biased your opinion of Alvarez. You may not have recognized that the defendant wore long sleeve shirts during the trial. You did not have a picture of Rich prior to his death – because his constant smile might have biased you. And, you learned that evidence can be presented by different “experts” in an attempt to tell a different story. We do not envy you in any way for your work during the penalty phase. We cannot imagine the discussions that resulted in the decision to come to the death penalty. For Police Officers everywhere, thank you for the Death Penalty.

To the District Attorney’s Office, and the investigators, specifically Sgt. Jeff Liu and Senior Investigator John Minahan – Thank You! ONE person is responsible for presenting this case to the jury in the manner that produced such a prompt and clear statement on the execution murder of Rich - Chief Deputy District Attorney, Stephen M. Wagstaffe. Any public person who witnessed any portion of the trial will agree - there is no better prosecutor, anywhere, than Steve Wagstaffe. Your visit each evening to my parking lot motor home was a great way to end each day. I know you worked seven days a week during the trial, because you also came out each weekend evening. To the residents of San Mateo County, remember this amazing prosecutor during the June, 2010 election for your next District Attorney. It will be my honor to return to work on Steve’s election.

To Marco Marquez, the 16 year old Explorer riding with Rich on Jan. 7, 2006 – thank you for all your help. You were brave during this horrendous event. You helped the prosecution during the trial. And you remain in the teen Police Explorer program. Rich would be proud.

To San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks and Lieutenant Victoria O’Brien – a big thank you for your hospitality. Your constant and kind support during every day of the trail, the security of my business computer, the power and water and other supplies so that I could reside next to the Courthouse – all unmatched by the finest hotel concierge. Thank you. A special thanks to the Office of Emergency Services for checking on me each day.

To Judge Parsons, bailiff Baker, and the two Sheriff’s guards who stayed close to Alvarez in the courtroom and transferred him back and forth to his jail cell – thank you. Judge Parsons conducted this trial in a manner that all students of he court should observe.

To all the Redwood City Police Officers who came by the motor home to visit and take me to dinner, or bring dinners fixed by your significant others – a BIG thank you. I was under the false impression that I would be able to lose weight while fixing my own meals every day. I gained weight! Redwood City Police officers are the finest and most compassionate officers I have met anywhere. Thank you all, and specifically Officer Gouldson. Stay safe.

To all the Richardson family members – thank you for the apartment. We will be visiting all our new friends in Redwood City often, and will stay in your “visitor” apartment. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

To all you officers and civilians who made me aware that you are Marines – thank you. Rich WAS a Marine! I have his beautiful dress uniform in a large upright case along with his other mementos.

To all you who email me direct or email me anonymously through this blog, you can contact me direct at rmay@rapidid.com.

And finally, to all you who donated to the Mentoring program in East Palo Alto – a big thank you from the youth of East Palo Alto. Because of Rich’s job as a police officer, he had the unique ability to reach into families and help troubled youth one at a time. The mentoring program continues exactly what Rich did on a daily basis – helping young people with adult intervention. Continue to donate at www.FriendsforYouth.org.

This is my final blog. Thank you for becoming part of our new big family.

Rick May, Rich’s father rmay@rapidid.com

http://www.officerrichardmay.net/2008/05/memorial-two-years-later.html

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