The Santa Cruz Police Department is in mourning after two officers on the force were shot dead on Tuesday by a gunman who was later gunned down by police, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reports.
Detective Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker and Det. Elizabeth Butler were shot and killed around 3:30 p.m. near the 800 block of Brancifrote Avenue while continuing an investigation related to a Friday night arrest, police say.
"This is the darkest day in the history of the Santa Cruz Police Department," Police Chief Kevin Vogel said, adding, "We lost two exceptionally fine officers today."
Police say the gunman, identified as 35-year-old Jeremy Goulet, was killed about 30-minutes after shooting the officers. He was shot dead on Doyle Street after opening fire on officers searching the area. Police say they don't think there were any other shooters but as a precaution three schools in the area were put on lock down while police searched the neighborhood.
Reports say Goulet had three registered weapons including a .40-caliber semi-automatic Sig Sauer and a Baretta. He lost his job at a coffee shop on Saturday after he broke into a co-workers home on Friday and made sexual advances toward her. Goulet was arrested and made bail. That unidentified employee filed a police report on Tuesday which may be the reason why police drove to Goulet's residence.
Baker was with the police department for 28-years and Butler 10-years. They are the first police officers in the department's history to die while on duty.
"Tonight we are heartbroken at the loss of two of our finest police officers who were killed in the line of duty, protecting the community we love," Mayor Hilary Bryant said. "This is an exceptionally shocking and sad day for Santa Cruz and our Police Department. We offer our deepest sympathy and prayers to the families and the fellow officers of our fallen heroes."
Goulet had a history of criminal behavior. In 2008, he was convicted on sex and gun charges in Oregon after spying on a woman in her shower. When confronted by the woman's boyfriend a concealed gun on Goulet fired. He served a two-year jail sentence.