Suspected cop killer in court today

Officer Richard May, 29, was fatally shot by 22-year-old East Palo Alto resident Alberto Alvarez during a Saturday afternoon incident outside a taqueria, police said.

May, a 12-year law enforcement veteran, was with the East Palo Alto Police Department for about 18 months. He is survived by a wife and three daughters.

A public quiet hour will be held between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Spangler Mortuary, 650 Live Oak St., Menlo Park. Large crowds and police from across the Bay Area are expected to attend Thursday’s public funeral at HP Pavilion in San Jose. The funeral starts at noon.

May is the second East Palo Alto officer to die in the line of duty since the city was incorporated in 1983.

Alvarez was arrested when police spotted him trying to hide in the back seat of a car. The discovery ended a 14-hour manhunt that drew approximately 250 police officers from agencies throughout the county. This isn’t the first time Alvarez has been in trouble with the law, but this time he faces life in prison or the death penalty.

The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office could pursue the death penalty, but has yet to announce its intentions. However, the DA’s office is already familiar with Alvarez. He has been in and out of jail for various misdemeanors and was released from prison last year after serving a "low-term” sentence for drug- and weapon-related charges, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said yesterday.

Alvarez was convicted in 2004 of possession of marijuana for sale and possession of a concealed weapon. The charges carried a maximum sentence of three years. Alvarez likely was given a lighter sentence because of his young age, Wagstaffe said.

Before that, he was charged with "numerous misdemeanors” that landed him in jail for usually a few weeks or days at a time,” Wagstaffe said.

Alvarez is expected to enter a plea this morning during his arraignment.

May, 39, was responding to a disturbance at the Villa Taqueria near University Avenue and Weeks Street at around 5 p.m. Saturday, police said. May approached Alvarez while he was leaving the business. Alvarez turned around and opened fire on May, who was able to return at least one shot that hit Alvarez in the leg, police said.

A 14-year-old, who was part of the department’s Explorer program, was riding in the car with May. The 14-year-old made the first call that May was shot, police said.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.

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A quiet hour for Officer Richard May will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday at Spangler Mortuary, 650 Live Oak St., Menlo Park. Funeral service will be held at noon, Thursday at the HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara Street, San Jose.

For updated funeral information call the East Palo Alto Richard May funeral hotline at (650) 853-3116.

The East Palo Alto Police Officer Association set up a trust fund to assist May’s family. Donations can be made to the May Family Trust Fund, Account No. 458233826. Donations can be sent to the San Mateo Credit Union in Redwood City, P.O. Box 910 or made in person at the San Mateo Credit Union located at 525 Middlefield Road in Redwood City.<