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Santa Paula Police personnel lined up Saturday in front of Steam Engine 14, brought in Saturday by Fillmore & Western Railway owner David Wilkinson to provide a backdrop for the National Police Memorial Day observance. The observance included the rededication of the SPPD Monument and benches in honor of two fallen officers were unveiled. |
SPPD Memorial rededicated, benches unveiled for Bartlett, Hemminger
May 18, 2016
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Hundreds of people attended Saturday’s rededication of the Santa Paula Police Memorial and the unveiling of benches honoring two officers killed in accidents during the National Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony.
Members of the public as well as police and fire representatives from various agencies attended the event at Railroad Plaza Park honoring City Marshal Henry Norman, killed in a shootout in 1913 and Officer James Barmore who died in 1953 while enroute to a call.
Also honored were SPPD Officer Kim Hemminger and SPPD Reserve Officer David Bartlett, both killed in off duty auto accidents in 2012. Two benches facing the obelisk monument and dedication plaques for Hemminger and Bartlett were unveiled during Saturday’s ceremony overseen by Reserve Lt. Brad Tallent; he worked with retired Lt. Carlos Juarez on the rededication and memorials.
“It brings a little bit of closure,” said Tim Barmore who was only 16 months old when his father died. “All I wanted was a picture in the Depot…then after 58 years we had closure, especially for my mother.
“I like history,” and he noted, “I think people should know what their history is…”
The ceremony said Nils Rueckert, chairman of the 2011 effort to create the monument, “brings back memories,” of when Santa Paula Historical Society President Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson “Gave us a blank piece of paper and asked us to fill it,” with a fitting monument.
“I’m glad to see this is still the focal point to the SPPD…we looked at putting plaques in various places,” but then Chief Steve MacKinnon, Doug Nelson, Norm Wilkinson, Chris Wilson and Commander Ish Cordero created the obelisk now honoring Norman and Barmore with plaques made by Howard Bolton.
Rueckert, who has been involved with the Santa Paula community and its projects for 30 years said the SPPD Monument “Is the one I’m most proud of…”
The ceremony started with bagpipes and a Santa Paula Airport flyover staged by pilots John Castorina, Mark King and Bruce Dickenson with Janice Dickenson doing the ground alerts. The planes appeared overhead just as the National Anthem — sung by SPHS Senior Jonathon Fiscal —ended.
SPPD Detective and Chaplain Walter Harper gave a history of National Police Week, noting President Kennedy and Congress established it in 1962. Two California area officers have lost their lives in the line of duty so far this year among 35 nationwide who came to their “End of Watch...”
“Sadly, Santa Paula Police lost their comrades and we will never forget them or their families,” said Harper before he led the prayer.
Voice actor and ventriloquist Jimmy Weldon (who was Yakky Doodle the duck in cartoons) was invited by SPPD Police Chief Steve McLean to do his patriotic presentation of “For I Am the Stars and Stripes Forever.”
McLean spoke of his respect for veterans including Weldon and note the presence of several in the audience.
He introduced Vice Mayor Jenny Crosswhite, Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi and City Manager Jaime Fontes among others as well as members of the Barmore and Hemminger families. Also in attendance was Gabrielle Aguirre, whose father VCSO Deputy Peter Aguirre Jr., a popular city native, was killed in the line of duty in 1996.
The loss of officers through violence is growing said McLean and such deaths no longer only result from calls of domestic violence — as the case of Aguirre — or standoffs with criminals.
“Officers are being killed while sitting in their cars eating lunch, while pumping gas, for no other reason,” said McLean, “than they’re wearing the badge…”
Because of the monument and benches, any officer that ever works for the SPPD McLean added will “know about our fallen officers…”
Juarez told how a Ghost Walk story dealt with Barmore and his death and how his widow, Betty, got in touch with Henderson, also the founder of the theatrical event.
“She was dismayed that no one had reached out to her,” although an effort to find family members had been made.
Rueckert, “A take charge kind of guy” was notified and with former Chief MacKinnon in 2006 the committee was approved by the council. Five years later the monument finally became a reality.
At the dedication of the monument in 2011 Juarez said he remarked that “I hope and pray that no other names are added to the monument…today I again hope and pray that no other names are added to the monument, or benches to the park,” for other officers that lose their lives.
“…my dad, Jim Barmore, was part of the reason this memorial was constructed,” said Barmore. “He died February 7, 1953 in the line of duty for the City of Santa Paula.”
Barmore told the crowd he has no memory of his father killed when Tim was a toddler, “just a few pictures and some stories,” but his mother, “left to shoulder the burden of being a single parent at the age of 23” not an easy task.
“My mom was, and is, a strong willed, good woman,” who went to work for the SPPD as a Dispatcher.
“ I remember being no more than three years old, in bed, when suddenly these strange lights would shine in on our bedroom window walls,” the signal for his mother to work the graveyard shift.
“Always trying to keep me on the straight and narrow, my mom became a Den Mother in Cub Scouts,” and one of her protégé cubs was Mark Hanson, later SPPD Assistant Chief.
Said Barmore, “I want to thank my mom for hanging in there with me. What a long strange trip it’s been!”
He noted “Today the town and its citizens are re-dedicating this memorial along with this wonderful addition, two memorial benches; however, these benches come with a very high price…the loss of two more Santa Paula Police Officers…I didn’t know them and they didn’t know me, but our families are here at this memorial for a common purpose today, which is to remember them.
“To Jennifer, Kristipher and Emma Bartlett…and to Sharon, Wallace and Jason Hemminger…you lost someone too precious for words — and way too soon. I wish I could tell you why it happened, but I can’t…I’ve been searching for that answer for 63 years with no luck.
“The only advise I have for you is: Keep their memories close, remember their voices, their laugh, their mannerisms, their smell…and if they start to fade…come back and sit on their bench on this hallowed ground and remember this day.”
Barmore thanked “Nils Rueckert and Police Chief Steve MacKinnon for everything they did to make this monument possible.”
Former Chief Walter Adair spoke of those SPPD past and present “who served with dignity…it’s a hard job,” who maintained their professionalism through it all. “They deserve thanks for all they do…”
He noted that things did not change much in the SPPD from when it was founded in the early 20th Century through World War II.
“When I came on in 1964 car radios had a tube, the car had to warm up,” before direct communication could be established.
“I carried a six-shot .38 caliber Colt & Wesson,” but over the years “technology advanced, equipment advanced…the training I had was riding along with an officer,” retired SPPD Sgt. Jim Rhoades who Adair pointed out in the audience.
“He gave me the shortest and best advice I ever had when he said ‘don’t do anything stupid!’ ”
When the laughter died down Adair said times have changed including the perception of police work and its challenges that can lead to controversy fanned by armchair experts who do not have to make “those split decisions...”
Policing has come far from the days that the patrol car siren was mounted on the front left fender and the frequency for all the police agencies were on one channel. Dispatchers had to make “judgment calls, very difficult decisions…and when I came on there were maybe twelve felony reports a year. There were eleven bars on Main Street, seven on Harvard and three on 8th Street…we had to furnish our own guns and leather and make a $14 deposit,” on their police badges.
The SPPD has had notable success including solving a Ventura-based and high-profile murder case years eight years after it occurred working with “Ventura PD that did wonderful work...I was very proud of that relationship.”
Adair said, “I admire the character of the men and women,” of the SPPD as he is proud of his hometown Santa Paula, which is “unique in how supportive they are of their police department…it was a great job for me and I’m grateful for my experiences I had with the department and personnel.”
“I wish we did not have these losses,” said Crosswhite but those lost “live on in our memory…”
She also read a greeting from Mayor Martin Hernandez who was unable to attend.
Commander Ish Cordero conducted the End of Call Bell Ceremony with Officer Matthew Alonzo for Norman and Barmore.
Tallent then spoke of how the SPPD Reserve Police Unit was established in 1958 with Sgt. Doyle Kelly, who passed in recent weeks, instrumental in its formation of it.
“ In Santa Paula many Reserve Officers have the same duties and responsibilities as full time officers — the difference is that they are not compensated. My colleague and friend, David Bartlett, was one of our reserve officers. You heard many names today of police who started as reserves,” but Tallent said “Before his death, David had confided in me that he may want to become a regular officer. Dave was a big guy, focused, compassionate, and even-tempered with a loud, hearty laugh. If he were here today, I am sure he would have achieved anything that he set his sights on.
“The plaque on his memorial bench is appropriate with what you have just heard and reads ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others’ in loving memory,” of Officer David P. Bartlett #1080
“Beloved by family, friends & community,” hired July 27, 2004, EOW February 15, 2012.
SPPD Explorers escorted Bartlett’s family to the bench dedicated in his memory.
Sgt. Jimmy Fogata spoke of Hemminger, noting “In order to become a police officer one must have strengths and character traits that will enable that officer to not only successfully complete a rigorous academy and a four-month field training program, but also to succeed in a field that many aspire to attain. Kimberley Hemminger had those qualities, but also had qualities, which made her very personable.
“She was caring and empathetic and truly enjoyed her job as a police officer. Kimberly Hemminger was also a member of the Departments mounted enforcement unit with her horse ‘Scooby’ ” whose service is now acknowledged with a memorial brick.
“All of Kimberly’s qualities and her ability to touch the lives of those she knew and met during her life and her career made her the special person,” that added Fogata, “that we all knew and loved…”
Explorers also escorted Hemminger’s family to her bench, whose plaque reads, “A life that touches others goes on forever,” and notes “In loving memory of Officer Kimberley Hemminger #1032, “Selfless service to others & loved by all” hired January 7, 2008, EOW July 22, 2012.
Explorers also presented roses to the family members.
“Kimberly would be very happy and surprised how much people really cared about her, and how much they loved her,” said Sharon Hemminger, Kimberly’s mother and best friend, said after the ceremony.
Bartlett’s widow Jennifer said, “Santa Paula Police have been incredible, they continue to support us,” in every way possible.
“We appreciate that they are maintaining the memories,” of her late husband and Hemminger, as Jennifer noted, “it’s wonderful…”
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Left, Seated on the bench dedicated to the memory of the late SPPD Reserve Officer David Bartlett who was killed February 2012 in an off-duty traffic accident are (left to right) daughter Emma Bartlett, widow Jennifer Bartlett and son Kristipher Bartlett.
Right, Wallace and Sharon Hemminger, parents of late SPPD Officer Kimberly Hemminger, sit on the bench devoted to her memory with their son and Kimberly’s brother Jason, his wife Katie and their daughter Meghan. |
