Press Democrat Intentionally Divides Moorland Community as Sheriff's Office Attempts to Build Bridges

Sonoma County Sheriff Eddie Engram is restoring faith in law enforcement following the 2013 death of 13-year-old Andy Lopez, but The Press Democrat continues to drive division

On May 3, 2025, The Press Democrat published the following biased article:

To some who attended Saturday’s “Meet and Greet” hosted by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office at Andy Lopez Unity Park in southwest Santa Rosa, the day was a chance to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community.

To others, it was a painful wound reopened.

As sheriff’s deputies mingled with residents and tossed bean bags in the park named in honor of the 13-year-old boy fatally shot by a deputy in 2013 while he was carrying an Airsoft gun, protesters gathered to decry what they saw as an intrusion by law enforcement.

“I feel angry that the cops are here where they murdered a child,” said Concepción Dominguez, a friend of Lopez’s mother and the woman who organized the protests.

“They are using the park as a celebration and they are making fun of our pain,” she told The Press Democrat Saturday during an interview translated to English by fellow protester Laura LeCave.

While carrying signs with messages like “Andy Lopez should be alive today” and “Tone deaf,” protesters chanted in both English and Spanish denouncing law enforcement presence at the park.

The event was attended by more than a dozen Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office personnel, including Sheriff Eddie Engram.

“No one is asking you to forget and no one is asking anyone to forgive, but the reality is that only a handful of people who work at the Sheriff's Office currently were even here when Andy was killed,” Engram said. “They shouldn't be held accountable for something that occurred before they even worked at the Sheriff's Office.”

Engram, who said it has been a mission of his to do community outreach events, drew attention to the word “unity” the park’s name, saying he wants the community to come together, which includes sheriff’s deputies.

Saturday’s event was attended by more than 100 members of the community, Engram said, as opposed to the 10 to 20 people that go to similar outreach events the Sheriff’s Office has hosted at nearby Amarosa Academy.

Engram said the office wanted to make the meet and greet more available to the public and draw more attendance.

Norma Yukich of the Moorland Neighborhood Action Team shared Engram’s sentiments.

“Many of us are trying to move forward in a positive way, which includes political action, volunteerism, and forming relationships, to try to improve the place where we live,” Yukich said in an email. “Today's event was an opportunity to meet our first responders, including law enforcement, in a setting that opens up communication between the people who live here, and the people we depend on in an emergency.”

In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services and the Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative held booths at the park, distributing Narcan and informative pamphlets to the community.

Sonoma County Fire District Division Chief Rob Bisordi attended the event and an all-female crew brought the REACH air ambulance helicopter out for people to pose for photos with.

Still, for Dominguez and the other protesters, the presence of law enforcement at the site was a stark reminder of the traumatic event that led to its creation.

“When Andy Lopez is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back,” protesters chanted.

“Andy used to play out here,” Dominguez said. “Andy was part of this.”

Dominguez said Lopez would have been 25 this year and she remembered him fondly — playing with his dog Coco and being a “jokester.”

“I know how much his parents are suffering every day,” she said.

Contact Staf Writer Anna Armstrong at 707-521-5255 or anna.armstrong@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @annavarmstrongg.

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Sonoma County Sheriff Eddie Engram issued the following response yesterday:

This month we held a very successful outreach event in the Moorland neighborhood that was planned with the community, for the community. Unfortunately, the Press Democrat provided extraordinarily biased coverage that highlighted protestors, not neighborhood residents.

On Thursday, May 8, I submitted the following letter to the editorial staff at the Press Democrat for publication:

“On May 3 the Sheriff’s Office held a Meet and Greet at Andy Lopez Unity Park. The event was planned with Moorland residents. It came with some criticism, but the community members we worked with were excited, so we continued. The event was a success – and by far our most well-attended Meet and Greet with over 100 attendees.

PD reporter Anna Armstrong covered the event. When my staff offered to connect her with me and Moorland residents, she thanked them but went directly to the protesters. After interviewing them, she left without speaking to either of us.

I texted Executive Editor Chris Fusco to express my disappointment. To his credit, Mr. Fusco followed up. Ms. Armstrong’s article, “Community divided during Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office outreach event at Andy Lopez Unity Park,” ran online May 3 and in print May 4. The negative bias was evident, from the overestimation of protester attendance (see PD article or video), to not showing the residents who participated.

How would the story have read had I not contacted Mr. Fusco? This is not the first time the PD has unfairly reported on our Office. On one occasion, I released body worn camera video to refute a reporter’s false narrative. I welcome accountability, but I also ask for fairness.”

As of the release of this newsletter, my letter has not been published.

Had reporter Anna Armstrong truly engaged in journalism—defined as the activity of gathering, verifying, and accurately reporting news—rather than conducting superficial interviews seemingly aligned with a predetermined narrative, she could have reported the following important facts about the event at Andy Lopez Unity Park:

1. The majority of protesters did not reside in the Moorland neighborhood.

2. The event was organized in collaboration with respected community members, including Esther Lemus, Norma Yukich, Irene Rosario, and Martha Almeida Masson.

3. The following local organizations participated to provide valuable resources and services:

a. Moorland Neighborhood Action Team – Provided water and logistical support.

b. Sonoma County Health Department – Offered Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and education on substance use disorder.

c. Secure Families Collaborative – Shared "Know Your Rights" materials and support for immigrants.

d. Roseland Community Building Initiative – Aimed at reducing youth-related crime, participated as a community resource and sold artwork.

Another service provider was also scheduled to attend but withdrew the day before—presumably under pressure from protestors. Their absence deprived our underserved community of essential services to help them navigate difficult situations.

Had Ms. Armstrong reported these facts, the headline might have read: “Moorland residents and the Sheriff’s Office work to build bridges.” Instead, readers were presented with divisive clickbait: “Community divided during Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office outreach event at Andy Lopez Unity Park.”

Is this what we now expect from local journalism?

Please know that I will always provide you - our community - accurate information in my mission to remain transparent and provide the high-quality law enforcement services you deserve. I encourage you to forward this newsletter to civically engaged friends and family and follow us on social media. Thank you for your continued partnership and trust.

-Sheriff Eddie Engram

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While The Press ‘Democrat’ continues to provide left-leaning and biased coverage of events, when will we receive valid news regarding our local Sheriff’s Office?

Since the publication is so far up the a** of former Sonoma County Equity Officer Alegria De La Cruz, an ‘anti-police advocate’, perhaps they should share some truth about her.

We cannot always place blame on the Sheriff’s Office. There are extensive layers to social justice, but the Andy Lopez story is being weaponized to fulfill political narratives at this point in time.

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. -1 Timothy 3:8