Statements from Police Chief and Mayor regarding the police officer-involved shooting incident on 10/16/16

Statement from Police Chief Kevin Vogel Regarding Police-involved Shooting

I want to acknowledge the thoughts expressed by the Santa Cruz community in light of the tragic shooting involving our Police Officers in the early morning hours of October 16th. An event like this impacts a community leaving questions, concerns and emotional scars.

The Santa Cruz Police Department is committed to transparency and independence in the investigation of this tragic shooting. Santa Cruz Police management met with the District Attorney and Sheriff’s Office and immediately invoked the countywide Critical Incident Protocol. This process was put in place years ago by the law enforcement leaders in this county to address such circumstances. The Santa Cruz Police Department requested the District Attorney’s Office take the lead role in the investigation to ensure a transparent, thorough and independent review. At the conclusion of the investigation, the District Attorney will issue a finding.

In addition to the District Attorney’s investigation, the police department will conduct an administrative investigation. This investigation will examine if the officers acted within the department’s use of force policy. This investigation will be subject to oversight by the City’s Independent Police Auditor and ultimately the City Council’s Public Safety Sub-committee who
will report back to Council.

The Police Department is communicating with the suspect’s family and offered them support through our full time Victim Advocate. We are committed to supporting and communicating with the family throughout this investigation.

We also recognize that our officers are affected by their involvement in this tragic situation. We are taking measures to reach out and care for our staff. All of the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave to allow us the opportunity to conduct the investigation and care for their needs before they return to duty protecting our City.

As more details of the event become available, we will release information to keep the public informed.
-- Police Chief Kevin Vogel

Statement from Mayor Cynthia Mathews Regarding Police‐involved Shooting

By now, most of our community has learned about the officer‐involved shooting that took place in the early morning hours of Sunday, October 16th. Several of our Police Officers responded to a very dangerous situation that ultimately resulted in the use of lethal force. This is a very rare
occurrence in our City and we are treating it seriously, with particular attention to the handling of the investigation.

Above all, I, along with the entire City Council, mourn the loss of a Santa Cruz community member and recognize the greater impact of this event on all of us. Regardless of the circumstances or if we personally knew or did not know the individual, it is tragedy to lose a
fellow community member.

The investigation into the exact events that led to this outcome will be the work of the next several days and weeks. We are grateful that the District Attorney was willing to take the lead on an independent and objective investigation, with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Office. Our
officers are lending every possible resource to this work and we thank the Police Department for its suggestion of outside agency support for the investigation. Finally, we want to recognize the toll that this incident has taken on all members of the Police Department.

As the investigation proceeds, more information will be provided to the public. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we balance providing up‐to‐the‐minute information to the community with protecting the integrity of the investigation. -- Mayor Cynthia Mathews

Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

By Kevin Vogel, Chief of Police

This Friday marks the third anniversary of the tragic and senseless deaths of our heroes, Sergeant Loran “Butch” Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler.   On Friday afternoon at 3:23 p.m., members of the Santa Cruz Police Department will gather at the Baker-Butler Memorial Garden in the front courtyard of the police department for a quiet ceremony to honor and remember our fallen friends and heroes.  3:23 p.m. marks the time on February 26, 2013 that Butch and Beth gave everything they had for this community.  We will gather to remember a father, a husband, a mentor and a friend.  We will gather to remember a mother, a partner and an inspiration to all of us.   Remembering who they were, what made them so special, why we admired them, why we loved them and why we were proud to serve next to them will make certain they never leave our hearts.

We remember them every day as we gaze at the beautiful Baker-Butler Memorial Garden that was dedicated to their memory on the first anniversary in 2014.  Every member of the Santa Cruz Police Department who worked by their side wears a memorial pin inscribed with Butch and Beth’s badge numbers as a perpetual reminder of the ultimate sacrifice they made when they gave their lives for our community.  

Last year, former Mayor Don Lane brought forth a proposal in which our City Council unanimously proclaimed February 26^th as “Baker-Butler Memorial Day” in the City of Santa Cruz where the flags will be lowered in perpetuity at all City facilities.   As I mentioned when I delivered the eulogy for Butch and Beth on March 7, 2013, Elizabeth loved the delicious Morning Buns at Kelly’s French Bakery.  Every single Wednesday morning, Kelly and Mark Sanchez, owners of Kelly’s Bakery, have ensured a delivery of 100 Morning Buns to the police department.  The members of the Santa Cruz Police Department have affectionately named those Morning Buns “Butler Buns.”  We are grateful to everyone in our community who has kept the spirit of Butch and Beth alive in all of our hearts.

We will never forget the outpouring of support we felt from this community and communities beyond following that fateful and tragic day nearly three years ago.   It is very difficult, if not impossible to find words to adequately describe the overwhelming feelings that our Santa Cruz Police Department family experienced as those of us who traveled in the memorial procession navigated our way from the beach area in Santa Cruz to the memorial service in San Jose.  The streets of Santa Cruz and the overpasses on Highway 17 were lined with members of our community and beyond expressing their love, honor and respect for Butch and Beth.  It was a showing of love and support from our community that we have never experienced before.  I’ve said this many times before and I’ll say it again.  Thank you Santa Cruz!

For those of us who knew Butch and Beth, not a day goes by when we do not reach deep into our hearts and find a personal memory of them that brings a smile to our faces.  Please join us in honoring them on Baker-Butler Memorial Day.  We love them both dearly and we will miss them forever.   

SCPD Says Goodbye to Officer Tom Young

Thomas Craig Young

May 12, 1964 - January 11, 2015

On Saturday January 24, 2015, members of the Santa Cruz Police Department said goodbye to one of our own.  Officer Tom Young was laid to rest after a memorial service attended by hundreds of guests, which included Officer Young’s family, members of the Santa Cruz Police Department, members of law enforcement agencies and fire departments from across our county, as well as members of our community.  It was a fitting tribute to Tom, who will always be remembered as one of Santa Cruz’s finest.

The morning began with a procession, including marked emergency vehicles, from Santa Cruz Memorial to the Recital Hall at UCSC, which had over 400 guests present.  The memorial service was officiated by the Reverend Richard Rice of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Santa Cruz.  Remembrances and reflections of Tom were delivered by Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel, Tom’s brother-in-law Ben Matheny, Santa Cruz Police Officer Trevor Kendall and Capitola Police Chief Rudy Escalante.  The Santa Cruz Police Department Honor Guard posted the colors at the onset of the service and retired them at the conclusion.  There was a flag ceremony in which Tom’s wife Julie received a folded American Flag from Chief Vogel, as well as a heart-wrenching last radio call tribute to Tom that was broadcast at the service by our dispatch center, Santa Cruz Regional 911.  The ceremony concluded with Officer Pat Bayani playing Taps on his trumpet.

The Santa Cruz Police Department would like to thank all who attended the memorial service to honor Tom Young’s life and his service to our community.  We would like to thank the Santa Cruz Fire Department for the static display of the American Flag from their two ladder trucks at the west entrance to the UCSC campus on Saturday morning.  We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol and the UCSC Police Department for keeping Santa Cruz safe by providing police services to our community on Saturday so that every member of the Santa Cruz Police Department could attend the memorial service for Tom.  Our thanks goes out to Santa Cruz Memorial and Randy Krassow for making sure the arrangements for Tom were handled perfectly.  Lastly, our thanks goes out to Alison Lucas and her staff at the UCSC Arts Division Dean's Office for their generous contribution and assistance with the venue where the memorial service for Tom was held, The Recital Hall at UCSC.

As Chief Vogel said when he concluded his remarks at the memorial service, “We know you are safe.  We love you, we will miss you and we will never forget.  May God bless you and may you rest in peace.”