Richard Huerta As I Remember Him (Updated)

Richard Huerta as I remember him. The above photo was taken at a BBQ held in my backyard in San Jose in 1969. A year later on August 6, 1970, Richard Huerta was shot and killed in the line of duty. (Also in the photo Richard's friend Jane and on his left San Jose PD Sgt. Ray O'beirne. The blond lady in front is my aunt Lina Gemignani.

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Hello
I am currently a recruit in the San Jose (Police) Academy. I had spoken with the training staff about doing a presentation for the Academy class. I was assigned to do a presentation on fallen Officer Richard E. Huerta.

As I was browsing the Internet, I noticed a blog that you had written about Richard Huerta. From what I understand, you were a close friend. I am contacting you to inquire if I could ask you some questions about him. I would like to put together an informative presentation and your help would be greatly appreciated.


Ivano said:

Thanks for contacting me. Yes, I was a very close friend of Richard Huerta. I have written a book "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast); although the book is mostly about my parents and other Italians who settled on the North Coast of Santa Cruz , I do include a Chapter on my Police Experience at SJPD. Included in that Chapter is a recount of the night that Richard was killed (August 6, 1970) and the impact it had on me and my family. The book is available at the Morgan Hill Library and can be requested at any Santa Clara County Library Branch.

Also on this Blog you can access all the articles that I have written about Richard by typing in his name in the "search blog" space located at the top left hand corner. It is most interesting to read the comments to those articles made by his brother officers. (One of the articles includes a retelling of the night that Richard was killed by Dave Brickell, one of the Investigators at the scene.)

I live in Morgan Hill. Feel free to contact me at any time and we can arrange a meeting somewhere in this area.

Thanks for using the LNostra-Costa Blog as a part of your research on Officer Richard Huerta.

UPDATE**********UPDATE*************UPDATE***************UPDATE**********

9-03-08

Ramon:

Thanks again for having me at your presentation at the San Jose Police Academy. It was great. You did an excellent job researching and then presenting the material. I learned somethings that I did not know about Richard. I sure enjoyed being there.

Maybe I was too forward in suggesting that you scan my phot0 album (of Richard's funeral ) and make a new one for the San Jose Police Library. I know that you are busy and might not have the time. On the other hand the album with a summary of your presentation would be a great edition for the library . If you have time, fine, if not maybe I can conjure something up. Let me know.

I still would like the summary of your presentation so I can put it on my blog. I think my readers would be very interested in it.

Thanks again and "Sempre Avanti".

Ivan(0)

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Also attending Ramon's presentation was Officer Jaime Saldivar, one of Richard's cousins.

Some of you may recall that I mention Jaime in 'La Nostra Costa', endnote 95, page 337:

"In the July 2004, publication of The Vanguard, the official publication of the San Jose Police Officers' Association, Officer Jaime Saldivar writes a poignant and emotional article on attending Thompson's last parole hearing on April 21,2004. At that hearing, Thompson was denied parole. His next parole hearing is scheduled for the year 2008."

Jamie informed me that Emile Thompson, Richard Huerta's killer, has already had his parole hearing. Parole was once again denied. Next Parole Hearing, 2012. Thompson, who was in his early twenties at the time of the killing, will be in his sixties by 2012.