Be Loyal. Be Honest. Be Damon.’: Gutzwiller Memorial Draws

COMMUNITY NEWS ‘Be Loyal. Be Honest. Be Damon.’ Gutzwiller Memorial Draws Mourners From All Over The Central Coast

By Jondi Gumz

Friends and family said their final in the office “because he could,” Deputy good-byes to Santa Cruz County Chris Shearer said. Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller “We’re going to pray to God this will June 17 at an emotional memorial on the never happen again,” Shearer said. “It’s Cabrillo College football field attended by OK to grieve, to cry, to morn. We have to... an estimated 3,000 people, many of them We must learn to heal and live again. Be law enforcement brethren from all over loyal, be honest, be Damon.” California, watched by 800 on YouTube and His wife Favi recalled her first date recorded on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook with Damon, when they watched the battle page, where it has 91,000 views. movie “300,” and he sat respectfully at the

The two-hour remembrance was opposite end of the couch. solemn, as those in uniform know they may A few weeks into their relationship, get their last call at any time — as Gutzwiller, Favi, a nurse in the neonatal intensive care 38, did on June 6 when he was fatally shot while on duty — but there was laughter, too, Bagpipers lead the procession at the memorial for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller. unit, had a 16-hour night shift when a baby died, and Damon brought her lunch and as they shared stories about him. Hart thanked the civilian who “Gutz” in memory of his friend. They made her dinner, leaving it at her door.

Gutzwiller grew up in Aptos, gradknocked away the assailant’s assault rifle, did. Favi said Damon, an only child, uated from Aptos High in 1999, then bomb and pistol: “Thank you for stopping In an email read by Pastor Schlaepfer, wanted children. She was unsure at first, attended Cabrillo. In his 14-year career this rampage.” Deputy Jake Cooper shared how they had but as she got to know him, she realized with the Sheriff’s Office, he touched a lot He thanked the more than 40 law fun on the Sheriff’s Office drone team, she wanted him to be the father of her of lives. enforcement agencies that came when he calling themselves pilots, with Gutzwiller children.

“I have been flooded with letters and called for help on June 6. changing his phone ringtone to “Top Gun” She said he relished being a dad, emails,” said Pastor Rene Schlaepfer of He thanked the people filling in for and getting a call during roll call, to razz getting up early to make breakfast for Twin Lakes Church, who served as emcee. his deputies Wednesday, allowing them to the sergeant who was a real pilot. Carter and play with him and cook with “I wish I could read them all.” attend the memorial. In another email, Deputy Daniel him. He had plans to coach him in Little

He read a few to give “a flavor of this He said Damon “would demand we Robbins told how he and Gutzwiller, League baseball and teach him golf. beautiful life.” find our way back to serve the community during a traffic stop, found burglary tools Damon dreamed of buying a Jeep but

On one side of the stage, Gutz– we must remember Damon is counting in the vehicle and questioned the driver, when Shasta, his canine companion, was willer’s official on us. Let’s make who denied any illicit activity until Gutzdiagnosed with cancer, he spent his Jeep portrait showed his Damon proud.” willer said, “You are a LLPOF.” Which fund savings to pay for Shasta’s surgery trademark grin, a Hart then prestands for “Liar, liar, pants onfire.” and radiation. smile that would sented Gutzwiller’s Sgt. Daniel Freitas, via email, told For Valentine’s Day, he gave Favi a light up a room. badge to his family, a story of a mountain hike so exhausting Welsh love spoon that read, “I shall look On the other side, getting down on even Gutzwiller’s border collie Shasta laid after you and protect you.” a family portrait one knee to speak to down -- and Gutzwiller slung the dog over She shared that memory, then showed him with his Carter, then giving his shoulders and carried him miles back paused. wife Favi and son Favi a hug. to camp. “Memorial” page 10 Carter, who is 2. Mark Ramos, a Gutzwiller joined every special team Deputies were tracking a van with explosives June 6 Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, with his wife Favi and son Carter. retired deputy fire chief in Santa Cruz, said Gutzwiller was when they entered a mountain hideaway in like a son to him and his wife Wanda, Ben Lomond, where they were ambushed eating breakfast and dinner with them — with gunfire and explosives; the alleged until he met Favi. assailant, who is in jail, also faces a federal Whatever Wanda would cook up, murder charge for the May 29 drive-by Gutzwiller would always say, “Umm shooting ofa federal officer inOakland. — amazing!”

Sheriff Jim Hart, who promoted GutzSgt. Steve Ryan, who had Gutzwiller willer to sergeant last year, said he had as his first partner, recalled Thanksgiving known Gutzwiller since he was 18 when he four years ago, eating at the Felton Chinese becameavolunteerwiththeSheriff’sOffice. restaurant, as one of the best, because he

“Who watches over the watchers?” spent it with Gutzwiller. asked Hart, telling Favi, Carter and the Gutzwiller was so happy to be a father baby who is due soon, “We love you and that whenever Carter’s name came up, he we’re here for you. Damon loved this would pull out a picture to share. When community and he gave too much. Every his mother Vicki got ill, he had dinner member of our department will make you with her every week and drove her doctor Photo Credit: Michael Oppenheimer feel that love right back — not just now or next week but in years to come.” appointments. Ryan asked everyone to yell out Representing Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller in the procession, the hood has his name and picture and says EOW • 6/6/2020 (End of Watch)