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He was, from what I have read, a fine man and role model.

Here is some background on the New DA:

Kamala Harris' Upstart Campaign for DA
Could Lead to Historic Firsts in City, State
By Traci Curry, November 7, 2003 05:20 PM

SAN FRANCISCO -- If Kamala Harris wins next month's runoff election for San Francisco District Attorney, it would mark a new chapter in the racial history not only of the city but the entire state.

Harris, 38, who is of mixed Jamaican and Indian descent, could simultaneously lay claim as San Francisco's first female district attorney, the first official of Asian descent to hold the office, and the first African-American top county prosecutor in the state.

The significance of that potential moment, however, is subject to debate among lawyers and other professionals who are following the race closely.

"I think it's historic. Given that San Francisco is so diverse, why did it take until 2004 that we have the possibility of having an attorney of color in the position?" asks Gillian G.M. Small, President of the California Association of Black Lawyers.

Harris, the daughter of a mother from India and a father of Jamaican heritage, had been a relative unknown at the outset of the campaign. She ran on a platform critical of incumbent Terrence Hallinan's low conviction rate, and promised an aggressive prosecution of violent crimes, especially sexual exploitation and domestic violence against women and children.

With the support of a diversity of San Franciscans -- conservatives drawn to her tough on crime stance, members of the Mission District's gay community, as well as endorsements from across the city's communities of color -- Harris was able to suprisingly edge out Bill Fazio by about 5,000 votes in Tuesday's election, despite polls that had shown her in third place. And exit polls and many politcos think she has a good shot at prevailing in December.

"We see her as a member of the South Asian community and are proud to endorse her. It's absolutely historic as far as we're concerned that a South Asian might obtain such a high office," says Paul Grewal, President of the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California. Grewal says many of San Francisco's South Asians saw Harris as strong on issues that were important to them.

"One issue that we're sensitive to is hate crimes. Post 9/11, many South Asians have been victims of hate crimes and the district attorney's office has been less than responsive to our interest in seeing those crimes prosecuted," Grewal says. "Kamala contacted us very early and worked to build bridges and make introductions into the South Asian community as a whole and was eager to see us represented on the campaign."

Harris' supporters cite her 13 year prosecution record as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County and San Francisco, where she most recently held the position of Deputy City Attorney, as the primary reason for voters' support. But the significance of someone with Harris' cultural heritage in the DA's seat isn't lost on them.

"Her background, from a legal standpoint is excellent, but what also is of great import with Kamala, is the sense of history, the historical moment that her election would bring." says Vernon Goins, President of the Charles Houston Bar Association.

Harris was born in Oakland, and raised in Berkeley by parents who were active in the civil rights movement. Harris' mother, Dr. Shyamala Harris, has said that her daughter developed a passion at an early age for the social justice issues to which she has dedicated her career.

Harris has acknowledged her own unique position as a woman of color poised to take over the DA's office. In an interview with legal publication The Recorder, she discussed her ability to relate to many of San Franciso's diverse communities.

"I can walk very comfortably in the Bayview, as comfortably as I do downtown, as comfortably as I do in different sectors of the city that quite frankly don't really, necessarily see each other or speak with each other, talk with each other. And I believe it's important that somebody who holds a position of city leadership be able to connect all those populations in a way that they see their common interests, and can then collectively participate in the solutions."

Earlier this year, she told the San Francisco Examiner, "I grew up with a strong Indian culture, and I was raised in a black community," she says. "All my friends were black and we got together and cooked Indian food and painted henna on our hands, and I never felt uncomfortable with my cultural background."

Some suggest, however, that a win for Harris may not be particularly meaningful from a racial standpoint.

Angela Harris, law professor at UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall, has researched and written on race theory, and is skeptical about the degree to which the race of the DA would make a difference in San Francisco.

"When you look at the demographics of San Francisco, it's not a black city. It's heavily European American and relatively affluent. It doesn't have the kind of working class core that other cities have."

She says that while the Harris's election would be a notable first for the state, the impact would be mostly symbolic.

"The District Attorney's office is such a local kind of position and has to do with the politics of the city. In terms of California politics it doesn't mean very much."

Michael Harris, Assistant Director of San Francisco's Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, agrees.

"Since we've had an African American mayor for two terms it's not that huge a deal. It's her ideas and issues that are what she is going to bring in terms of leadership."

Monica Wiley, a San Francisco deputy city attorney, considers the long term possibilities of Harris as district attorney.

"Anytime you have an African American female elected by voters to be the chief law enforcement officer, it's important. Other communities in California will not only see that, but will also see that she'll do a great job. I think that if she's elected, in four or five years, San Francisco will have one of the premier district attorney's offices in state."

Oakland, Berkeley - says it for me. I was raised and still live in Oakland.

M. Savage went "nuts" on this a few days ago - I did as well.

I was in SF the day of his funeral and watched the choppers move with the procession in the air. My first thot was there must be one hell of a manhunt on and then recalled what was actually going down.

My heart goes out to the family of Officer Espinoza and am alarmed at the threats by the gang.

I had 2 AK-47s and a Browning 9mm in Nam as personal weapons. I know what an AK can do.

SF/Bay Area is not a fun place to be anymore. - I'm thinking of moving inland or to Nevada.

I am really pis*ed and want the Cops unleashed - we have got to do something or these gangs will just take over.

I wish you well and applaud your neighborhood in taking vigilance and action.

G*d what a waste and the little MF is going to get away with it. My only hope is that he gets a cell mate who loves young men.

Words fail me further.