On March 21, 2014, 28-year-old Alejandro "Alex" Nieto was shot a reported 59 times by SFPD. He was en route to work, at a nightclub where he worked security, carrying a taser. He died at the hands of police officers who, in a federal lawsuit, were later found not guilty of any wrongdoing.
Nieto’s death spark outrage in the community and beyond.
On Wednesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to approve a permanent memorial on Bernal Hill at the spot where Nieto was killed, which is currently denoted by a small shrine of rocks and flowers.
Only one supervisor voted against the memorial, District 3’s Mark Farrell.
“We don’t recognize the police officers killed or injured protecting residents,” Farrell said to Bay City News. “Somehow we’ve forgotten the debt we owe these men and women and someone needs to stand up for them.”
Other supervisors were quick to point out that they would, of course, also honor fallen police officers.
“What’s scary and unfortunate is that we cannot honor a loss of life, period,” said Supervisor Malia Cohen, according to Mission Local. “The reality is, if law enforcement or anyone wants to be recognized, all they have to do is ask, the same way that the community has asked.”
As for when, that’s still up in the air. As SFist notes, “It is not clear what form the memorial will take, or when it will likely be completed.”