I can only hope that Sheng Thao and Pamela Price felt shame and embarrassment as they sat in their seats at Officer Le’s memorial service yesterday, which was broadcast live, commercial-free, on KTVU. As speaker after speaker extolled Le’s shining spirit and invoked God’s blessings upon the Oakland Police Department, what were Price and Thao thinking? Both have spent their political careers crucifying OPD. They have scrambled to the top of the greasy political pole upon the backs of our cops. Price especially has insulted and harmed OPD in every way possible. Thao, with her sanctimonious insincerity, has been almost as bad. It was despicable for them to attend the service. How could either have looked any cop in the eye, after what they have done? I’m just glad neither insisted on speaking—or maybe they did and were told by the family not to.
We can perhaps best honor Officer Le’s memory by naming a public space after him. May I suggest Latham Square, wedged between Broadway and Telegraph, at 16th Street? The individuals after whom the Square is named, James and Henrietta Latham, were local animal rights activists. They were, I’m sure, fine people, but we can do better for a space so central to Oakland. The Police Department headquarters, on Seventh Street, is just blocks away. Even closer is City Hall. The beautiful Fountain symbolizes water which is the essence and renewal of life. I can see in my mind the new signage: “Officer Tuan Le Square.” We should remember him every day going forward. For all the police haters out there—and there are way too many in Oakland—a visit to Officer Tuan Le Square might be a reminder that honorable people do exist in Oakland—not unscrupulous politicians trying to gain office by bashing cops, not criminals, not hacks and grifters, but authentic heroes.
In a more charitable mood, I might wish that Price and Thao learned something during their obligatory presence at the Memorial. But right now I’m not feeling particularly charitable toward them. I doubt that either is capable of evolving, after a lifetime of hatred and resentment against law enforcement that has stultified their souls and frozen their ideology into stone. Listening to Acting Chief Darren Allison deliver his stirringly heartfelt eulogy, I wished that our leaders were more like him.
Rest in peace, Officer Tuan Le.
Steve Heimoff