Santa Cruz Officers Being Honored In Memorial
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Hundreds of law enforcement agents from throughout California saluted the family members of two slain police detectives before joining them in a convoy to a memorial service.
Limousines carrying the relatives slowly passed the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Thursday before heading 30 miles northeast to a memorial ceremony at HP Pavilion in San Jose.
Santa Cruz Police Department detectives Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker and Officer Elizabeth Butler were killed by Jeremy Goulet after they came to his house on Feb. 26 while investigating a misdemeanor sexual assault case.
Goulet was killed in a subsequent chase and shootout.
Firefighters and emergency medical workers joined law enforcement officials and family members in the procession that threaded its way through the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Community members somberly lined the route through Santa Cruz, paying respects.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Gov. Jerry Brown is joining hundreds of law enforcement officers and community members at a memorial for two Santa Cruz police detectives who were shot and killed during what they had expected to be a routine investigation.
Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker, 51, and Officer Elizabeth Butler, 38, were at the doorstep of Jeremy Goulet's residence last Tuesday, trying to interview him as part of a misdemeanor sexual assault case.
Authorities allege that instead of answering his door, Goulet, who had spent two years in prison and had a lengthy criminal history, went out another door and ambushed them, opening fire with a 45 caliber handgun.
Goulet, 35, was killed about 20 minutes later after a chase and shootout. Laid off just days earlier, Goulet was in the process of moving out of the house where he had rented a room, and had a passport and an airplane ticket to New Mexico on his when he died.
The afternoon shootings rocked the small beach town, prompting calls for more funding for public safety.
At the request of the families, Santa Cruz local American Idol star James Durbin will be singing at the service.
Baker, who had been with the department for 28 years, is survived by his wife, son and two daughters. His son is a Santa Cruz police officer.
Butler, a 10 year veteran of the department, is survived by her partner, Peter Wu, and their two young sons.
They were the first Santa Cruz Police officers killed in the line of duty.
Santa Cruz county law enforcement agencies, as well as firefighters and emergency medical responders, arranged a procession to drive to Thursday's memorial, scheduled from Noon to 3 p.m. at San Jose's HP Pavilion. A scholarship fund launched for the families at www.cityofsantacruz.com.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
