Today we honor the life and sacrifice of Sergeant Butch Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler. February 26th marks the 4th anniversary of their ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty for our community.
Thank you for your service, your convictions and devotion to duty. May you rest in peace knowing your fellow brothers and sisters are watching over your family and continuing the Watch.
Sergeant Loran "Butch" Baker
Detective Elizabeth Butler
The SCPD Honor Guard performed a solemn remembrance ceremony at the Baker-Butler Memorial Garden in the front courtyard 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.
On February 24th, 2015, the Santa Cruz City Council adopted a resolution declaring February 26th as “Baker-Butler Memorial Day” in the City of Santa Cruz in perpetuity and authorized City of Santa Cruz staff to lower flags at all City facilities to half-staff on this date each year.
February 26, 2013 will be a day that we all will never forget. On this day, Sergeant Butch Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler were tragically killed in the line-of-duty.
The Santa Cruz Police Honor Guard led a solemn 43 minute ceremony in remembrance of that fateful day. The timing is significant because Butch and Elizabeth lost their lives on February 26, 2013 at 3:23 p.m. and the individual responsible for this horrific rampage was stopped at 4:06 p.m.
Sergeant Loran "Butch" Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace knowing your fellow brothers and sisters are watching over your family and continuing the Watch.
The Baker-Butler Memorial Garden stands as a tribute to our fallen friends and heroes. The creation of this beautiful garden was labor of love. View the evolution of the Baker-Butler Memorial Garden.
"Building the Memorial Garden" is available on SCPD YouTube Channel https://goo.gl/uG5XKS
SCPD is grateful to all those who put in many hours and worked tirelessly to make this Baker-Butler Memorial Garden happen.
Our SCPD family has been humbled by the outpouring of support and respect both towards our Officers and the Baker and Butler families since the tragic day. SCPD is forever grateful and we vow to continue our tradition of service as we move forward keeping the City of Santa Cruz safe.
