Santa Cruz police remember fallen officers
KSBW News Report
This week marks three years since two Santa Cruz police officers were killed in the line of duty…
The city continues to honor the two officers as well.
A memorial garden serves as a daily reminder of the two officers made the ultimate sacrifice. City Council offered a moment of silence at its Tuesday night session. Council also declared Feb. 26 as Baker-Butler Day, where a remembrance ceremony will be held outside police headquarters at the memorial garden.
At the ceremony on Friday, there will be 43 minutes of silence, beginning at 3:23 p.m. The time represents the amount of time between the officers’ deaths and when the gunman was stopped.
The police honor guard will perform the ceremony and a tribute to Butler and Baker will be played over the police radio before the memorial ceremony begins.
Police badges now include Baker’s and Butler’s badge numbers, and a plaque at the police department is dedicated to them. The plaque includes the names of officers who served in the same investigative unit.
Take Back Santa Cruz plans to hold a public memorial ceremony Friday at sunset to honor the fallen officers as well.
Take Back Santa Cruz raised $3,000 for the Butler/Baker Memorial Garden in 2013.