Hundreds mourn slain police officer Hundreds mourn slain police officer (January 13, 2006)

In a heartfelt farewell to slain East Palo Alto Police Officer Richard May, who had worked with young people, hundreds of schoolchildren lined University Avenue at Bay Road Thursday morning as his funeral procession passed by.

The children were fourth and fifth graders from nearby Costano Elementary School and Cesar Chavez Academy, many holding hand-drawn signs declaring their love for May.

The funeral procession of hundreds of police on motorcycles and in patrol cars, their light bars flashing, took almost 20 minutes to pass by on the way to a funeral service in San Jose's HP Pavilion.

The children were respectful, having been told by their teachers that the procession was not a parade. But many waved back at officers who waved at them, and a number of officers briefly turned on their sirens in short bursts of thanks at seeing the children and the others who lined the curb. The officers came from police agencies around the state to pay respect to May.

May, 38, was shot and killed Jan. 7 while following a man who had been in a fight. Alberto Alvarez, 23, of East Palo Alto, has been arrested and charged with May's murder, for which he may face the death sentence if convicted.

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