Mourners gathered Thursday at the San Jose Civic Auditorium to pay their respects to Kevin Nishita, a former police officer and security guard who was killed during an attempted robbery of a television news crew in Oakland last month.
“As Kevin’s best friend, I know Kevin is so grateful for everyone being here today and we are too,” said his wife, Virginia Nishita.
Hundreds of police officers and other mourners were at the venue Thursday morning to bid farewell to Nishita. He began his law enforcement career in 1993 as a member of the Oakland Housing Authority Police Department before serving as an officer in San Jose, Hayward and Colma. Officers from those departments escorted his body when it was taken to a funeral home last week.
“Kevin will be remembered for having a huge heart and seeing the good in others,” said San Jose police Chief Anthony Mata, who said he first met Nishita while working in the investigations bureau. Nishita worked for the San Jose Police Department from 2001 to 2012. “He made a positive impact in San Jose by helping those in need. Kevin was empathetic and always put others before self.”
Commander Sherwin Lum of the Colma Police Department, who worked with Nishita from 2012 to 2018, added: “He was the model police sergeant who anyone would want on their team. Kevin did what it took to take care of his people.”
Nishita’s stepson and his stepson’s friend, who described Nishita as a father to her, spoke of how they became a part of his family and how he cared for them.
“I’ll always remember when I got the news about Kevin proposing (to my mother). I was excited and for the first time I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders,” said Enrique Serranto. “I wasn’t alone in taking care of my family.”
A friend of Serranto, Maureen Campos was taken in by the Nishita family after both of her parents died when she was a teen. “He really was a dad to me,” she said Thursday. “I know that we’re not blood-related but … I never felt left behind by him and Aunt Gina.”
Servicegoers rose as Nishita’s family entered the auditorium shortly after noon. Members of the San Jose Emerald Society, a group founded by Irish-American police officers to honor fallen service members, filed into the theater playing bagpipes and drums.
The Buddhist ceremony began with the tolling of the Kansho, or the “temple bell” as the scent of incense lingered in the air. Reverend Yushi Mukojima, of Mountain View Buddhist Temple, led the sutra chanting before the altar and read out loud Nishita’s Buddhist name.
Nishita was an employee of Star Protection Agency and was working with a news team from television station KRON on Nov. 24 when he was shot in the robbery, which occurred in the 300 block of 14th Street in Oakland. He suffered a lower abdomen injury and died three days later at Highland Hospital, according to authorities.
“We were part of a very moving ceremony. It’s very gratifying to see this outpouring of emotion for our fallen brother,” San Jose police Assistant Chief Paul Joseph said after the service. “He was taken from us way too soon but to see everybody come together like this is very impressive.”
Oakland police are investigating the shooting. Authorities have released surveillance photo of a vehicle authorities said the suspect was driving — a white 2004-2008 Acura TL with no front license plate — and asked the public to contact police if they have any information about the killing.
Nishita was born in Yuba City and grew up in a family of four sisters. He is survived by his wife, Virginia, his stepson, Enrique Serranto, his son’s friend, Maureen Campos, who was taken in by the family, three sisters, and three grandchildren, Titus, Kahuna, and Dash Campos.
Crime Stoppers of Oakland and the Oakland Police Department are offering up to $38,500 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the people involved in the shooting. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.
