jmtins
07-30-2005, 15:54
Slain officer's family, force cloaked in grief
Wife, brother, parents publicly call for justice in 'this senseless tragedy'; suspect in court today
By Ricci Graham, STAFF WRITER
SAN LEANDRO — Summoning her strength, the wife of slain San Leandro police Officer Nels "Dan" Niemi stood at a podium Wednesday, searching for a way to express her unimaginable grief.
In the end, all Dionne Niemi could do as a cadre of reporters looked on was thank the community for its support.
"Dan loved being here and serving the community," Niemi said softly, her eyes red with tears. "I appreciate everything. Thank you very much."
Dropping her head, Niemi stepped to the side, where her father-in-law, Rudie Niemi, waited, and yielded the podium to her brother-in-law, Jim Niemi, who spoke of the need for justice, of his parents' pain and of a loss too great to comprehend.
The Niemi family was making its first public appearance, at the San Leandro Police Department, since Niemi — a former Silicon Valley network administrator who joined the 86-officer department three years ago — was shot and killed late Monday while responding to a routine disturbance call on the 14700 block of Doolittle Drive.
The suspect in the shooting, Irving "Gotti" Ramirez, 23, is scheduled to be formally charged in the city's second homicide of the year when he appears at 2 p.m. today beforeSuperior Court Judge Alfred Delucchi at the Hayward Hall of Justice.
Ramirez, who was arrested Tuesday afternoon in a relative's apartment in Daly City, is accused of shooting Niemi while the officer investigated a loitering and disturbance call involving juveniles on the western edge of the city.
Jim Niemi fought through the rush of emotion while talking about his family's pain.
"This tragedy was senseless," he said. "Our family has endured a traumatic loss
Dionne Niemi, widow of slain police officer Nels "Dan" Niemi, thanks the community for support as she speaks during a press conference at the San Leandro Police Department on Wednesday. To the left is officer Niemi's brother Jim. (Jane Tyska - Staff )
from which we will never recover. Our family is devastated, and my mother and father are absolutely overwhelmed with grief. We feel that justice must be done to address this senseless tragedy."
Following the family's brief appearance, Lt. Marc DeCoulode said San Leandro detectives have spoken to a number of Ramirez's friends and family members, along with several people who live in the area where the shooting occurred.
"In the last 24 hours, we have conducted a number of interviews, and the case is progressing very well," DeCoulode said.
He said investigators have gathered evidence, though he declined to elaborate. He said Ramirez — a Newark resident who was born in El Salvador but grew up in the San Mateo County area — had not given a statement to police.
But DeCoulode said Ramirez apparently had
Wife, brother, parents publicly call for justice in 'this senseless tragedy'; suspect in court today
By Ricci Graham, STAFF WRITER
SAN LEANDRO — Summoning her strength, the wife of slain San Leandro police Officer Nels "Dan" Niemi stood at a podium Wednesday, searching for a way to express her unimaginable grief.
In the end, all Dionne Niemi could do as a cadre of reporters looked on was thank the community for its support.
"Dan loved being here and serving the community," Niemi said softly, her eyes red with tears. "I appreciate everything. Thank you very much."
Dropping her head, Niemi stepped to the side, where her father-in-law, Rudie Niemi, waited, and yielded the podium to her brother-in-law, Jim Niemi, who spoke of the need for justice, of his parents' pain and of a loss too great to comprehend.
The Niemi family was making its first public appearance, at the San Leandro Police Department, since Niemi — a former Silicon Valley network administrator who joined the 86-officer department three years ago — was shot and killed late Monday while responding to a routine disturbance call on the 14700 block of Doolittle Drive.
The suspect in the shooting, Irving "Gotti" Ramirez, 23, is scheduled to be formally charged in the city's second homicide of the year when he appears at 2 p.m. today beforeSuperior Court Judge Alfred Delucchi at the Hayward Hall of Justice.
Ramirez, who was arrested Tuesday afternoon in a relative's apartment in Daly City, is accused of shooting Niemi while the officer investigated a loitering and disturbance call involving juveniles on the western edge of the city.
Jim Niemi fought through the rush of emotion while talking about his family's pain.
"This tragedy was senseless," he said. "Our family has endured a traumatic loss
Dionne Niemi, widow of slain police officer Nels "Dan" Niemi, thanks the community for support as she speaks during a press conference at the San Leandro Police Department on Wednesday. To the left is officer Niemi's brother Jim. (Jane Tyska - Staff )
from which we will never recover. Our family is devastated, and my mother and father are absolutely overwhelmed with grief. We feel that justice must be done to address this senseless tragedy."
Following the family's brief appearance, Lt. Marc DeCoulode said San Leandro detectives have spoken to a number of Ramirez's friends and family members, along with several people who live in the area where the shooting occurred.
"In the last 24 hours, we have conducted a number of interviews, and the case is progressing very well," DeCoulode said.
He said investigators have gathered evidence, though he declined to elaborate. He said Ramirez — a Newark resident who was born in El Salvador but grew up in the San Mateo County area — had not given a statement to police.
But DeCoulode said Ramirez apparently had