RCPD Honors Fallen Officer Herman Fleishman

Tour of Duty: 1927 – January 22, 1939

The members of the Redwood City Police Department will honor Officer Herman Fleishman on the anniversary of his death that occurred while on duty with RCPD on January 22, 1939. Flags in front of the Police Department will be lowered to half staff and all of our sworn personnel will be dressed in a formal class "A" uniform to honor the sacrifice given by Officer Fleishman and his family. A historical summary of the events leading to the service death of Officer Fleishman is described below.

On Sunday, January 22, 1939, at about 2:15 AM, Officer Fleishman was working patrol when he observed a car speeding about 60 miles per hour along El Camino Real. Fleishman and his partner, Special Officer Mark Ryan gave chase and pursued the car north on El Camino Real from Five Points into the City of San Carlos, where it was stopped near Brittan Avenue. The driver, George Devin, stopped the car in the number two lane and Fleishman pulled the patrol car off the right side of the road behind Devin’s car. The two were standing behind Devin’s car as Fleishman was issuing a citation. A call on the police radio summoned Officer Ryan to the patrol car. Seconds later, a crash to the rear of the violator’s car pinned Fleishman and Devin between the two cars. Fleishman’s left leg and both of Devin’s legs were sheared off. It was reported that after the accident, Fleishman attempted to get up from the pavement and crawled to Devin’s side to give him first aid. He then reportedly directed Officer Ryan to issue a citation to the driver of the car that hit them.

The impact sent Devin’s car more than 200 feet across the highway (El Camino Real), over a curb, and into a vacant lot. Fleishman and Devin were rushed to Mills Memorial Hospital where they died of their injuries just before noon. The driver of the other vehicle, Robert Lee, was charged with negligent homicide.

Officer Fleishman is the only officer killed in an on-duty collision in the department’s history. Forty two years old, Fleishman was survived by his wife and two daughters. In July 1939, city officials dedicated Fleishman Park in his honor. On this date, we remember and honor our Brother Officer, Herman Fleishman.

The Redwood City Police Department Honors the Memory of Officer Gerardo Silva: EOW January 20th, 2017

Today, the men and women of the Redwood City Police Department will honor Officer Gerardo Silva on the one year anniversary of his passing. All ranks of sworn officers will be out on patrol, working the Detective Bureau, and running every operation in the organization in their Class "A" uniforms to honor the End of Watch (EOW) anniversary of Officer Silva's death. The flags in front of our building will be flown at half-staff and all of our shifts will be briefed by Command Staff sharing the story of Gerardo's death.

 Thank you Officer Silva for your service and sacrifice--you will not be forgotten.

 Your Redwood City Police Family 

Officer Gerardo A. Silva

Tour of Duty: March 15, 1999 – January 20, 2017

Officer Silva began his patrol shift on Friday, January 20, 2017, at 0600 hours.  At 0857 hours, Officer Silva was dispatched to the front lobby of the police station to meet the victim of a property theft and conduct an investigation.  When Officer Silva did not return to service after an extended period of time, a search for his whereabouts began.  Dispatchers and Supervisors called him on the radio and checked the GPS location of his assigned patrol vehicle.  When the search revealed Officer Silva’s  patrol vehicle was parked at the police department a physical search of the police facility for Officer Silva was initiated.  At 1240 hours, searchers discovered  the door to the second floor single-use bathroom locked and no response was received from inside. The door was forced open and Officer Silva was found unresponsive on the floor.  Officers initiated immediate life-saving measures, to include CPR and the use of an automatic external defibrillator.  Redwood City Fire Department and emergency medical personnel arrived and began advanced life support measures.  Officer Silva was transported via ambulance to Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City where he continued to receive advanced medical treatment in the Emergency Room.  Despite the extensive efforts of all personnel involved, Officer Silva died at 1330 hours.

Officer Silva began his career with the Redwood City Police Department as a Reserve Police Officer in 1993.  He served briefly as a Parking Enforcement Officer before being hired full-time as a sworn Police Officer in 1999.  Officer Gerardo Silva will always be remembered for his perpetual kindness, his easy-going and good natured demeanor, and especially his devotion to his community in which he lived his entire life and patrolled the majority of his career.

On this date, we remember and honor our Brother Officer Gerardo Silva.