Woodside graduate killed in line of duty Woodside graduate killed in line of duty (October 31, 2001)

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

Woodside resident and rookie San Jose police officer Jeff Fontana, 24, a graduate of both Woodside Elementary School and Woodside High School, was killed in the early morning hours of Sunday, October 28, during a solo patrol of an affluent residential area of Almaden Valley.

Services for Officer Fontana will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, October 31, at St. Pius Catholic Church at 1100 Woodside Road in Redwood City, with a vigil at the church on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. Arrangements are by Redwood Chapel at 84 Woodside Road in Redwood City.

Mr. Fontana was an accomplished student all through his school years, winning an award in elementary school and graduating with honors from San Jose State University, according to statements from his teachers at Woodside Elementary School.

He graduated from Woodside High School in 1995.
Investigation

Officers responding to a call at 4:35 a.m. from a neighbor in the area found Officer Fontana lying in the roadway of Calle Almaden. Paramedics attempted to revive him but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from the San Jose Police Department.

Police investigators are not yet certain of what led to the shooting but circumstances appear to indicate that he was shot while walking toward a vehicle he had stopped, police said.

Using helicopters and bloodhounds, investigators are conducting an intense manhunt for DeShawn Campbell, the prime suspect in the case. Mr. Campbell is also wanted on two outstanding felony warrants for burglary and grand theft, police said.

Mr. Campbell is described as a black man with a medium complexion, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 135 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Police say he has "Campbell'' tattooed on his left forearm. Police describe him as armed and extremely dangerous.
Teachers remember him

Karen Peterson, Mr. Fontana's eighth-grade teacher and advisor at Woodside School, spoke highly of him. "He was one of those students that you always wanted to teach," she said. "He was cooperative, respectful, always willing to step up to the plate. I've taught here 30 years and I have no trouble remembering him."

Ms. Peterson said Mr. Fontana was well-rounded, had exceptional school spirit, and was compassionate with his classmates. She said he won the first trustee award from the school, an award given to a student who goes above and beyond what is expected. She said she was flattered to be invited to his high school graduation party.

Ms. Peterson said the first reaction among other teachers at Woodside School was that it just wasn't fair to have such a good person leave in so tragic a way. "He was one of those exceptional people in this world," she said.

Barbara Tagg, a recently retired teacher from Woodside School, described Mr. Fontana as caring and thoughtful and one of the best peer counselors she ever had. She said she had the highest regard for him and that he had such a great future. "He was an exceptionally fine young man," she said.

Officer Fontana is survived by his fiancÈ, Crystal Littleton of Woodside; his parents, Sandy and Tony of Woodside; brothers Jason of Phoenix and Gregory of Woodside; grandparents Battista (Bob) of Santa Rosa, and Betty of Woodside; and an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins.