* San Jose Police Officers Frank Hagg and Nicholas Bronte to be Honored for Homicide Arrest
Published by Junior Staff Writer on January 24, 2011
Two outstanding San Jose police officers, Frank Hagg and Nicholas Bronte, apprehended an individual believed to be Friday evening’s rush-hour killer within minutes of the shooting.
Friday’s incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. near the El Pollo Rico restaurant in East San Jose, in front of at least 100 onlookers and at one of San Jose’s busiest intersections. Two suspects believed to be Surreno gang members were chasing an 18-year-old man when one of the suspects shot at him. Two nearby police officers heard the shot and immediately went to the scene to tend to the victim. After hearing of the incident over the radio, Officers Frank Hagg and Nicholas Bronte drove to an area they knew to be a spot that local gang members tended to hide-the rear of Ryan Elementary School. Upon arriving, Hagg and Bronte witnessed an individual attempting to flee. The officers pursued the individual on foot and were able to subdue him. Witnesses later identified this individual, aged 17, as the shooter. Police recovered a gun that had been discarded near Ryan Elementary. The victim later died from his injuries.
Without the quick actions of Officers Hagg and Bronte, it is likely the suspected shooter would still be at large. In an interesting coincidence, Officers Hagg and Bronte are due to be recognized on Feb. 1st by the San Jose Police Officers’ Association for outstanding police work due to their apprehension last December of several gang members that police believed were moments away from carrying out a drive-by shooting.
Friday evening’s incident brings the total number of homicides in San Jose this year to 7. Remarking on this unprecedented spike in violence, George Beattie, President of the San Jose Police Officers’ Association said, “The recent rash of homicides, armed robberies and violent assaults in San Jose clearly demonstrate how careless it would be for the City to layoff police officers this year. San Jose’s police staffing levels are currently about half the national average for large cities and our numbers are falling fast. If further proposed cuts go through, San Jose police will have a difficult time maintaining peace on our increasingly violent streets.”
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s budget proposal indicated that 200 police officer positions could be eliminated. As Officers Hagg and Bronte have been on the job only 3 years, they would be among the 200 officers to lose their jobs this year unless Mayor Reed decides to revise his budget priorities.
The San José Police Officers’ Association (SJPOA) has been serving San José Police Officers and the community since 1962. The SJPOA is charged with the enhancement of wages, benefits and working conditions of the over 1,200 men and women of the San Jose Police Department. We are law enforcement officers dedicated to serving all segments of the community with the pride and caring of professional police officers. Further, we support the San José community through our charitable giving and the promotion of programs that enhance public safety.
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B on Tue, 25th Jan 2011 1:54 pm
Good job SJPD.