Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Gordon Silva and Officer Gene Simpson were shot and killed after responding to a call of a homeless man harassing other citizens at the corner of Fifth Street and East Santa Clara Street. Officer Simpson was the initial officer on the scene and was shot while after the man was able to gain control of his .357 caliber service revolver. The man then ducked into a nearby parking lot and hid. Officer Silva was inadvertently struck by a shotgun pellet fired by another officer during the ensuing shootout with the subject. Other responding units shot and killed the subject. Officer Silva had served with the San Jose Police Department for 17 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-5AD8A129- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Silva gave the San Jose Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Jose community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Silva.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Gordon A. Silva is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At San Jose Police Department, 5 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gordon A. Silva's cause is highlighted.
How Gordon A. Silva Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Gordon A. Silva is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from San Jose Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
