On February 15, the City of Pittsburg honored Officer Donnie Pearman by naming a street after him in the community he served as El Pueblo Avenue was renamed to Officer Pearman Avenue.
During the ceremony, Captain Albanese provided some background information while Linda Givins (El Pueblo Housing Authority) also spoke. Donnie Pearman son, Donnie unveiled the street sign.
Captain Steve Albanese highlighted during the event that El Pueblo was 15-years of 22-year career and Pearman considered it his second home, a piece of him and his goal was to provide safety, happiness and security to the residents.
“This will be only the fourth Street in the history of Pittsburg to have a renaming in the honor of someone who had contributed to the community,” stated Albanese. “I think its fitting that officer Pearman will have his name up on the street sign here today.”
Albanese explained how he met Donnie Pearman at the academy and on Day 1 that he wore that patch with pride.
“It was definitely the most important thing for him at that time. Everyday he was the first one in the parking lot and the last one to leave and you knew where he worked. It was PPD this and PPD pride,” explained Albanese who added he was the same way on Day 1 as his last day.
“There were times where you had to order Donnie to go home well past his shift, still hanging around,” said Albanese. “You had to tell him Donnie you are off duty, go home. He loved this place, he loved this community.”
Pearman was working off-duty in security at the Sun Valley Mall in Concord when he responded to a shoplifted in custody. He later stepped out for a moment and then was found in a breakroom unresponsive due to a heart-attack. Later in the evening, he passed away.
