Regional Departments Gather for Sergeant Gutzwiller’s Memorial
By Jondi Gumz
Friends and family said their final good-byes to Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller Wednesday at an emotional memorial on the Cabrillo College football field attended by an estimated 3,000 people, many of them law enforcement brethren from all over California,, watched by 800 on YouTube and recorded on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, where it has 91,000 views.
Law enforcement officers form a wall of honor for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller at the Cabrillo College stadium. ● Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
The two-hour remembrance was solemn, as those in uniform know they may get their last call at any time ━ as Gutzwiller, 38, did on June 6 when he was fatally shot while on duty ━ but there was laughter, too, as they shared stories about him.
Gutzwiller grew up in Aptos, graduated from Aptos High in 1999, then attended Cabrillo. In his 14-year career with the Sheriff’s Office, he touched a lot of lives.
“I have been flooded with letters and emails,” said Pastor Rene Schlaepfer of Twin Lakes Church, who served as emcee. “I wish I could read them all.”
He read a few to give “a flavor of this beautiful life.”
On one side of the stage, Gutzwiller’s official portrait showed his trademark grin, a smile that would light up a room. On the other side, a family portrait showed him with his wife Favi and son Carter, who is 2.
The long procession makes its way down Soquel Drive in Aptos for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller’s memorial. People lined the street all along the route, which began in Santa Cruz, to pay respects. ● Photo Credit: Michael Oppenheimer
Deputies were tracking a van with explosives June 6 when they entered a mountain hideaway in Ben Lomond, where they were ambushed with gunfire and explosives; the alleged assailant, who is in jail, also faces a federal murder charge for the May 29 drive-by shooting of a federal officer in Oakland.
Sheriff Jim Hart, who promoted Gutzwiller to sergeant last year, said he had known Gutzwiller since he was 18 when he became a volunteer with the Sheriff’s Office.
“Who watches over the watchers?” asked Hart, telling Favi, Carter and the baby who is due soon, “We love you and we’re here for you. Damon loved this community and he gave too much. Every member of our department will make you feel that love right back ━ not just now or next week but in years to come.”
Hart thanked the civilian who knocked away the assailant’s assault rifle, bomb and pistol: “Thank you for stopping this rampage.”
He thanked the more than 40 law enforcement agencies that came when he called for help on June 6.
He thanked the people filling in for his deputies Wednesday, allowing them to attend the memorial.
Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, with his wife Favi and son Carter.
He said Damon “would demand we find our way back to serve the community – we must remember Damon is counting on us. Let’s make Damon proud.”
Hart then presented Gutzwiller’s badge to his family, getting down on one knee to speak to Carter, then giving Favi a hug.
Mark Ramos, a retired deputy fire chief in Santa Cruz, said Gutzwiller was like a son to him and his wife Wanda, eating breakfast and dinner with them ━ until he met Favi.
Whatever Wanda would cook up, Gutzwiller would always say, “Umm … amazing!”
Sgt. Steve Ryan, who had Gutzwiller as his first partner, recalled Thanksgiving four years ago, eating at the Felton Chinese restaurant, as one of the best, because he spent it with Gutzwiller.
Representing Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller in the procession, the hood has his name and picture and says EOW ━ 6/6/2020 (End of Watch) ● Photo Credit: Michael Oppenheimer
Gutzwiller was so happy to be a father that whenever Carter’s name came up, he would pull out a picture to share. When his mother Vicki got ill, he had dinner with her every week and drove her doctor appointments.
Ryan asked everyone to yell out “Gutz” in memory of his friend. They did.
In an email read by Pastor Schlaepfer, Deputy Jake Cooper shared how they had fun on the Sheriff’s Office drone team, calling themselves pilots, with Gutzwiller changing his phone ringtone to “Top Gun” and getting a call during roll call, to razz the sergeant who was a real pilot.
In another email, Deputy Daniel Robbins told how he and Gutzwiller, during a traffic stop, found burglary tools in the vehicle and questioned the driver, who denied any illicit activity until Gutzwiller said, “You are a LLPOF.” Which stands for “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
Sgt. Daniel Freitas, via email, told a story of a mountain hike so exhausting even Gutzwiller’s border collie Shasta laid down ━ and Gutzwiller slung the dog over his shoulders and carried him miles back to camp.
Gutzwiller joined every special team in the office “because he could,” Deputy Chris Shearer said.
Bagpipers lead the procession at the memorial for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller. ● Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
“We’re going to pray to God this will never happen again,” Shearer said. “It’s OK to grieve, to cry, to morn. We have to… We must learn to heal and live again. Be loyal, be honest, be Damon.”
His wife Favi recalled her first date with Damon, when they watched the battle movie “300,” and he sat respectfully at the opposite end of the couch.
A few weeks into their relationship, Favi, a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit, had a 16-hour night shift when a baby died, and Damon brought her lunch and made her dinner, leaving it at her door.
Favi said Damon, an only child, wanted children. She was unsure at first, but as she got to know him, she realized she wanted him to be the father of her children.
She said he relished being a dad, getting up early to make breakfast for Carter and play with him and cook with him. He had plans to coach him in Little League baseball and teach him golf.
County fire departments participate in the procession. ● Photo Credit: Michael Oppenheimer
Damon dreamed of buying a Jeep but when Shasta, his canine companion, was diagnosed with cancer, he spent his Jeep fund savings to pay for Shasta’s surgery and radiation.
For Valentine’s Day, he gave Favi a Welsh love spoon that read, “I shall look after you and protect you.”
She shared that memory, then paused.
“I only hope our children will grow up to just like their father,” she said.
Lisa Andersen, accompanied by Kid Andersen on guitar, sang the Jenn Bostic song, “It’s not my place to question. Only God knows why … I’m just jealous of the angels around the throne tonight.”
Singer Mira Goto sang the Jo Dee Messina song: “Heaven was needing a hero, brave enough to stand up for what you believe and follow through.”
The memorial included bagpipers, a wall of honor formed by law enforcement officers saluting the casket, and a flyover by helicopters.
Schlaepfer urged those attending to share stories about Gutzwiller with his children and follow his example: “Seek to multiply the good in Damon’s life into your own.”
The procession for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller arrives at Cabrillo College. ● Photo Credit: Michael Oppenheimer
Click Here to watch the memorial service on YouTube.