Candlelight vigil honors Santa Cruz police detectives

On the eve of the first anniversary of the deaths of Santa Cruz police detective Elizabeth Butler and detective Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker, Santa Cruz leaders and residents paid tribute to them with a candlelight vigil outside Santa Cruz City Hall.

As dusk fell on the brick patio near Church and Center streets, more than 100 residents gathered for a moment of silence led by Santa Cruz Mayor Lynn Robinson

"Today is about coming together as a community," Robinson said. "Butch and Elizabeth are heroes. They are truly, truly not forgotten."

With more than a dozen uniformed police and several firefighters, paramedics and city employees on hand, residents got a chance to thank them for their service.

Many also shook hands with members of Baker and Butler's family and offered their support near large pictures of the fallen officers.

Baker, 51, and Butler, 38, were the first Santa Cruz police officers killed in the line of duty.

The pair were investigating sexual assault suspect Jeremy Goulet at his home on North Branciforte Avenue on Feb. 26, 2013, when Goulet ambushed them and shot them both near his doorstep. Goulet was cornered and killed later that afternoon during a gun battle with authorities.

At Tuesday evening's ceremony, residents said the officers' deaths were something of a wake-up call about the dangers of police work in Santa Cruz.

Read Full Article on santacruzsentinel.com