Page 9 - Sonoma County Gazette Janaury 2019

ANDY LOPEZ cont’d from page 8
they want to feel safe from police shootings and other aggressive actions. They want accountability when law enforcement steps over the line, and assurance that believable measures are in place to prevent future abuses This building of public trust needs to become present, not absent from police concerns about the public they serve.
Building Andy’s Unity Park
In a major gesture toward healing, Sonoma County constructed a multi-acre regional park, named Andy’s Unity Park, dedicated last June. It was built on the very site where young Andy Lopez was killed in 2013. Hundreds of visitors every day come to the park, many of them consciously paying tribute to Andy. At the dedication of Andy’s Unity Park in June, Supervisor Lynda Hopkins made a public apology to the Lopez family, expressing a hope of healing for this family, as well as across the county-wide community.
“Andy’s Unity Park serves as a symbol that no child, ever, should have his taken away by law enforcement. It’s not about healing and not about justice.” ~ Suje Lopez, Andy’s mother
Andy’s Unity Park in Santa Rosa opened June 2, 2018 with a celebration of the community spirit that transformed a site of tragedy into a beautiful space to play, garden, gather, and remember. The park’s completion is a testament to a neighborhood’s vision and perseverance.
Suje Lopez, Andy’s mother, wants the community to be reminded that this park is not only a monument to her son, with its many opportunities for family fun and enjoyment in a safe environment. It also serves as a reminder of the day her son was killed without warning, an injustice she is determined must never happen to another Sonoma County child.
Accountability
“Accountability” is a term heard frequently when many people and community groups talk about healing. Accountability could be as simple as transparency, say supporters of IOLERO, the law enforcement review committee, who view it as another step in the direction of trust building if the Sheriff’s Office implements their recommendations and doesn’t obstruct its function.
“Real healing would have started when Erick Gelhaus was convicted and jailed for the senseless killing of Andy Lopez,” said a member of the Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez (JCAL), who noted that other people in the community “feel that Gelhaus executed Andy Lopez, who was minding his own business in his own neighborhood, legally carrying a toy. Not only was there no conviction, but Gelhaus was promoted to Sergeant.
Is this the solution to community healing?
Accountability could also mean jail time.
Reasons to be Optimistic about 2019?
I think the difficulties many of us have faced in the last few years (some due to political climate, some to the actual climate) have helped people find their communities of support, both local and virtual. Growing up in Cazadero we knew who had a generator you could plug into in a storm, who had the right tools for needed repairs, who had the gas oven to cook everyone’s TV dinners in a power outage (that was us). When I left I lost that, but it’s good to see it making a comeback.~ Heather Seggel
May we charge into the new year reslient and -, with our Spidey Senses ON high , to protect us and everything we love. May we move into the new year an evolved and more loving speciies. ~ Trish Siegel
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In light of the way the County and the Sheriff’s Department mishandled this entire case and in seeking immunity for Gelhaus, costing the taxpayers and community of Sonoma County millions of dollars, real healing will never be achievable until justice is served.”
The case of Erick Gelhaus vs. The Estate of Andy Lopez may be a freshly settled legal matter, but it appears that the new Sheriff, Mark Essick, has some healing work to do with the county he serves.