SAN JOSE — Thursday night saw an emotional gathering for a San Jose community service officer who died in the line of duty.
Long Pham was on traffic control in the Santa Clara County community of Coyote earlier this month when police say a drunk driver hit and killed him.
The memorial gathering Thursday brought together the community to grieve and remember a young man who was loved by many.
It was a night filled with tears and sadness as family, friends and Long Pham’s fellow officers from the San Jose Police Department honored his life.
Many described Pham as a dedicated and caring community service officer. Fellow CSO Loretta Terry knew Pham before he joined the department. His mother cut her mother’s hair before she died.
“Kind of left with that memory,” Terry said. “It’s a good memory and it just shows he comes from good people which is why he’s so well-loved by the department.”
Because of their family history, Loretta says that, at work, they were not just co-workers.