HONORING THE FALLEN: ALAMEDA POLICE OFFICERS MEMORIAL

On any given day, hundreds of peace officers in the East Bay city of Alameda pass by the Alameda Police Officers Memorial before starting their shifts. The memorial garden was strategically built outside the Police Administration Building on Oak Street to remain in constant view, serving as a lasting tribute to fallen colleagues. It was thoughtfully designed to serve as both a space for public gatherings and a place for peaceful, solitary reflection. Most importantly, it is “a way for the Alameda Police Department and the city to remember and honor the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice,” says Kevin Horikoshi, president of the Alameda Police Officers Association.

The memorial was made possible by then-Alameda Police Chief Paul Rolleri, who spearheaded its creation with the support of the Alameda POA, police department, City of Alameda and private donors. Horikoshi says that the inspiration behind the project was to pay tribute to the two police officers who died in the line of duty in the department’s history: Deward Burton Gresham and Robert James Davey Jr. The City had honored both officers by naming streets after them, and a plaque was put up for Davey at the Marina Village Yacht Harbor, but Rolleri and the POA wanted a permanent site to memorialize their service to the community. “Many current employees never worked with these officers, and we should never let them be forgotten,” Horikoshi adds.

Gresham was killed in a motorcycle accident on July 11, 1942. While he was attempting to make a traffic stop, another vehicle pulled out in from of him, causing him to crash and fatally strike his head. He was 33 years old and had been with the department for three years. He was survived by his wife, children and parents.

Davey, also 33 years old, was killed on March 3, 1983, while assisting department members with a search warrant. During the operation, a suspect carrying an automatic weapon shot at Davey, striking him on his side. Davey managed to return fire, hitting the suspect in the chest several times. Before succumbing to his wounds, Davey was able to secure the suspect’s rifle to prevent him from harming other officers on scene. He had been with the department for just over a decade and left behind his wife and their four children.

After nearly two years of construction, the memorial was formally dedicated in a 2013 ceremony attended by the Davey family and the community. The site features a walking path surrounded by a garden, granite benches, a flagpole, a commemorative plaque and a stone topped with sculptures of two mourning angels inscribed with the words “duty,” “honor” and “sacrifice.” Bronze busts of Gresham and Davey are displayed on granite plinths engraved with their badges and names. Additionally, there is sandblasted concrete that bears the quote “In valor there is hope.” At night, LEDs embedded in the concrete walking path and near the signage illuminate the memorial.

“I know that, for the Davey family, this memorial is appreciated because it is a way for the Alameda P.D. to never forget their loved one,” Horikoshi says. “As for the community, I hope they see the memorial and realize that these two men lost their lives serving and protecting this community.”

Every March, the department hosts a ceremony honoring Davey’s life, inviting the Davey family and past and present department members. “We usually gather at the memorial and people say a few words, and it is followed by refreshments,” Horikoshi shares. Unfortunately, a similar event is not held for Gresham, as the department has been unable to locate his surviving family. However, he is still honored alongside Davey each year during National Police Week ceremonies in May.

“It is always important to memorialize, honor and never forget the officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice. In this profession, it is our duty to protect and serve the communities that we work in,” Horikoshi says of the importance of peace officer memorials. “Unfortunately, it is not a guarantee that we will make it home in one piece — or at all. These memorials serve as a reminder that the job officers do is a dangerous and unpredictable one.”