For the first time in the history of the city of Santa Cruz, officers of the Santa Cruz Police Department were killed in the line of duty. Police Chief Kevin Vogel called the incident the “darkest day” in the department’s history.
Detectives Sgt. Loran “Butch” Baker and Elizabeth Butler were conducting a follow-up investigation into suspect Jeremy Goulet’s prior arrest on Friday. They arrived at his home on Tuesday Feb. 26, in the 800 block of North Branciforte Avenue at around 3:30 p.m. with the intention of questioning him. A brief gunfight ensued, leaving both detectives dead.
Goulet stripped the officers of their weapons and stole Baker’s car before fleeing.
A perimeter was set and teams of SCPD, Santa Cruz County Sheriffs, California Highway Patrol and the FBI immediately began conducting sweeps within the area.
Around 4 p.m. Goulet was encountered near Doyle Street, resulting in a shootout in which firefighters and bystanders had to duck for cover before Goulet was shot and killed. He was wearing body armor. In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Phil Wowak said he did not know whether it was stolen from Baker’s car or if he had already been in possession of it.
Branciforte Avenue, among other nearby streets, was shut down for hours following the incident. Two schools near the incident were put on lockdown and residents were advised not to leave their homes as helicopters flew overhead Tuesday night.
The two detectives were both SCPD veterans. Baker, survived by his wife, two daughters and a son, had been on the force for 28 years. Butler, who graduated from Kresge college in 1996, was survived by her partner and two daughters. She had been on the force for 10 years.
“It’s been devastating,” Vogel told reporters. “There are absolutely no words for me to adequately describe what my department’s been going through since yesterday afternoon.”
All officers of the Santa Cruz Police Department were given the day off on Wednesday, with Santa Cruz County Sheriffs and Califonia Highway Patrol picking up the slack until they are ready to return to duty.
“They can’t help you until they help themselves,” Sheriff Phil Wowak said. “So we’ve asked them to take the time they need to repair their agency and develop the internal strength to come back and continue to serve you as they have for the last 150 years.”
Wowak said in a press conference that Goulet had moved to Santa Cruz only months ago. Goulet had a criminal history and was portrayed as mentally unstable. Wowak said acquaintances described Goulet as “despondent” and “distraught” and said they thought he was likely “suicidal or homicidal.”
Candles and flowers were displayed near the site of the shooting on Wednesday and numerous elected officials released statements expressing their condolences, among them California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel).
“While the words of comfort we offer today are sincere, our actions and deeds will be the true test of our resolve,” Farr said. “If we are truly committed to ending gun violence in our communities, we must be willing to answer that question and seek real solutions to prevent this type of senseless shooting from occurring again.”
The two detectives were both SCPD veterans. Baker, survived by his wife, two daughters and a son, had been on the force for 28 years. Butler, who graduated from Kresge college in 1996, was survived by her partner and two daughters. She had been on the force for 10 years.
“It’s been devastating,” Vogel told reporters. “There are absolutely no words for me to adequately describe what my department’s been going through since yesterday afternoon.”
All officers of the Santa Cruz Police Department were given the day off on Wednesday, with Santa Cruz County Sheriffs and Califonia Highway Patrol picking up the slack until they are ready to return to duty.
“They can’t help you until they help themselves,” Sheriff Phil Wowak said. “So we’ve asked them to take the time they need to repair their agency and develop the internal strength to come back and continue to serve you as they have for the last 150 years.”
Wowak said in a press conference that Goulet had moved to Santa Cruz only months ago. Goulet had a criminal history and was portrayed as mentally unstable. Wowak said acquaintances described Goulet as “despondent” and “distraught” and said they thought he was likely “suicidal or homicidal.”
Candles and flowers were displayed near the site of the shooting on Wednesday and numerous elected officials released statements expressing their condolences, among them California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel).
“While the words of comfort we offer today are sincere, our actions and deeds will be the true test of our resolve,” Farr said. “If we are truly committed to ending gun violence in our communities, we must be willing to answer that question and seek real solutions to prevent this type of senseless shooting from occurring again.”
