A Mother's Testimony
Statement by Sue Reardon Delivered to Mayoral and District Attorney Candidates

Editor's Note:
On May 24 th, Sue Reardon delivered the following speech regarding the taking of her son's life by Santa Clara police. Sue, along with other families who had lost loved ones to officer involved shootings, told their stories to the candidates running for mayor of San Jose, and District Attorney of Santa Clara County. The following is the speech Sue Reardon read that evening.

My name is Sue Reardon. I am the mother of Eric Kleemeyer, who was shot to death on January 4, 2005 by the Santa Clara Police Dept. officers: Craig Middlekauf, Jeff Vaden and Dawn Marines.

I had been asleep for about an hour, until I was awoken by loud sirens outside my bedroom window around 12:20 am.   I ran outside in the front yard to see what was going on across the street.   There were a lot of police cars, an older white car and someone lying in the street.   I couldn't see who it was laying in the street, but I thought I recognized the older white car because my son had one just like it. I ran very fast back into the house to get my glasses, as I thought, “If that was Eric's car, then that could be him lying in the street.”   My heart sank as I ran to the corner where the person was lying to see that it was Eric.   I wanted to get next to him and see what was happening with him, but I was stopped at the corner by a police officer.   I cried, “That's my son, that's my son, let me get to him”.   Eric's face was covered in blood and his body was motionless. The officer said, “We don't know if that is your son or not, and we will arrest you if you continue to try and get to him,” as he pushed me back.   I couldn't believe what was happening.   No one was helping Eric.   What happened to him?   Was he dead?   Why?   I ran back into my house and called both my sister, and my boyfriend, Ed, to come over. I told them, “They killed Eric, they killed Eric,” but I didn't want to believe it.   They wouldn't do that to someone who is unarmed. This couldn't be happening to my Eric.   My child was dead?

When Ed, my sister and nieces arrived, they re-confirmed that Eric was dead. I started shaking uncontrollably and was shivering I guess you could say a state of shock.   Eric was still just lying on the cold, dark, pavement, immobile.   The police had caution-taped off my house.   Therefore, I had to climb my neighbor's fence, just to get into my house to lie down in my bed and try to quit shaking. No police officer ever came to tell me what happened or to ask if we needed any help.   They were more worried about trying to complete the crime scene.

Eric had been shot to death “execution style”. He had 18 entry and exit wounds throughout his body. Nine bullets were removed from his body—5 of which were listed as quickly lethal.   The evidence report listed the following:

You do the math.   My son's death was the result of a 2.6 mile pursuit and three officers “thinking” not 100% positive about anything.  

The police left Eric's dead body in the street for over 8 hours.   That image still haunts me when I look out my window.   Every time I asked when I could see Eric—meaning, being able to get next to him and hold him—the officers would tell me “In a little while”.   Once the coroner arrived, he took Eric away and it was several days before I was able to see my murdered son.   I just wanted to hold him as long as I could before they took him away. I knew we would cremate Eric's body and I just wanted a little more time with him before I could never hold him or touch him again the rest of my life. They took these last hours with Eric away from me.

The nightmare continues with the police dept. not answering my questions.   I had to wait for the investigation to be completed.   Once this happened I thought I would get some answers.   I have to now wait again for the District Attorney's office to do their investigation.   When does this end?   We as a community went to a Santa Clara City Council meeting to get assistance for an Open Grand Jury with over 300 signed petitions from the community.   We protested in front of the District Attorney's office for an Open Grand Jury to no avail.

We met with Karyn Sinunu, Assistant District Attorney, and

Peter Wade, attorney for the DA's office, to ask for an Open Grand Jury.   Sinunu said that it was up to the Judge to decide if it would be Open or Closed, and that most cases are closed with only a couple exceptions in the past.   I was very upset as I wanted every bit of information regarding my son's death.   Would I be able to receive this information if it was closed? NO, however, on April 1, 2005, as Sinunu said, as quoted in the San Jose Mercury News, “The family will have access to all the facts once the grand jury has finished with the case, as is standard procedure.”   Following up on this quote, our family made several calls to Sinunu's office with nothing in return.   And in over a year's time, we still have not received anything regarding the case.   We are still waiting…

WHY ARE THE POLICE ABOVE THE LAW?

-All 3 police officers received paid administrative leave after killing Eric.
-Dawn Marines laughed often through her investigation process.
-All officers were able to return to work within 3 days.
-All officers received a psychological evaluation to make sure they were okay to return to work.

I WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY PAY IF I KILLED SOMEONE
I WOULD HAVE TO SIT HANDUFFED IN THE COURT ROOM NOT BEING ABLE TO LOOK ANYWHERE BUT FORWARD AND NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESSIONS
I WOULD STILL BE IN JAIL AWAITING BAIL OR TRIAL IN 3 DAYS TIME
I WOULD NOT RECEIVE A PHYSCOLOGICAL EVALUATION

Why are Police Officers not held accountable for their actions like everyone else?   Does wearing a badge give officers the right to be judge, jury and executioner, taking someone's life because they “assume”?   I feel they should be held to a higher standard than to shoot and kill and ask questions later, then cover up their mistakes.

When do the shootings and killings of our children and citizens stop?
How many people have to die:

-Before these officers are stopped?
-Before procedures are changed?
-Before the District Attorney's Office stops acquitting the officers and actually cares about and assists the families of the victims?
Why does the District Attorney keep having closed Grand Juries?   
Are they trying to hide something “like a cover-up”?
Why is the District Attorney not held accountable for the families of victims being killed?

Karyn Sinunu does not follow through with her actions; she is not someone I would vote into office as the District Attorney after how she handled my son's case.   I will be more than happy to advise everyone to have the same vote against Sinunu.

When officers Craig Middlekauf, Jeff Vaden and Dawn Marines killed my beautiful 22-year-old son because they “thought” and weren't sure of anything, they took part of my life away.   Did they realize this?   Did they care?   Apparently not, nor anyone of authority for that matter, because these officers are still armed and working.   Dare I ask, “WHO IS NEXT??”

What makes these officers above the law?  
When do the killings of our children and innocent citizens stop?
When are the police officers, police department and district attorney's office going to be held liable?

I miss my son with every breath I take.   I cry myself to sleep and I still see Eric lying in the street.   I SEE THOSE OFFICERS DOING THIS AGAIN….

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