Source San Francisco Chronicle
A San Jose police community service officer was struck by a vehicle and killed Saturday night, and the driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.
A second community service officer was also struck and taken to a hospital. She was expected to survive, police said.
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The crash occurred in the area of Monterey Road and Palm Avenue as the officers conducted traffic control, police said.
The officer who died was identified as Long Pham, according to KTVU.
"Our entire police family is heartbroken by this line of duty death, and our collective arms are around his family, friends, and teammates as we all cope with this painful incident," the police department said in a statement.
Mayor Matt Mahan called the officer's death a tragic loss.
"Each day, our officers place themselves in harm's way to fulfill their solemn oath to protect and serve us — they are truly heroes," he said in a statement. "My prayers are with these two CSOs, their families, and our entire police department in this devastating moment, and I assure you that this selfish, reckless act will not go unpunished."
Police officials said they planned to share further information at a news conference Monday.
The incident marked the first line-of-duty death of a community service officer in the police department's history. Community service officers, civilian positions created in 2016, assist with responding to and investigating low-priority calls. Their law enforcement duties are limited to tasks such as issuing parking citations and towing abandoned vehicles.
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