Memorial grows for fallen San Jose Police Officer Michael Katherman

ByVic Lee

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Memorial grows for fallen San Jose police officer

Police and the community are mourning the death of a San Jose motorcycle officer who died in a traffic accident. People are now paying tribute to the fallen officer at the department's headquarters.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The San Jose Police Department is mourning the loss of an officer in the line of duty. Michael Katherman was on his motorcycle yesterday afternoon when a minivan turned in front of him. The 34-year-old crashed into it and later died at the hospital. Katherman was a married father of two who had worked for the SJPD for 11 years.

Officer Michael Katherman. Badge number 3900. He's the thirteenth officer in the department's history to die in the line of duty, and the second motorcycle cop in department history to die on duty.

"He's a family man, loving father who cared for his wife and two boys," said San Jose Police Officers Association President Paul Kelly.

Friends and colleagues came to the police administration building to mourn their fallen comrade. So did the families of officers. Their children drew pictures expressing their sorrow.

Corrine Bui's husband is a cop. Her thoughts are also with Katherman's wife.

"As a wife you often think about it. It's a possibility and you think about how you would deal with that," she said.

The 11-year veteran was on patrol Tuesday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a minivan at 10th and Horning Street in North San Jose.

He died later at Regional Medical Center.

Katherman went to Valley Christian High School in San Jose.

He loved being a motorcycle cop. He also loved riding dirt bikes with his wife and two young sons.

Earlier this year in a sad irony, Katherman rode in the Police Unity Tour to honor fallen officers and raise money for their families.

San Leandro Police Sgt. Troy Young is an executive with the Unity Tour.

"He obviously took a lot of pride in what he did," said Young.

Also there to pay respects, the widow of Brad Moody, the Richmond officer who died in 2008 responding to a call when his car crashed.

"I remember when my husband was killed," she said. "It was a tough time but it's good to have everybody surrounded, for us to be family together."

Michael Katherman. Age 34. End of Watch June 14, 2016.