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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

10News - 2 officers shot dead in Santa Cruz: Loren Baker, Elizabeth Butler were looking into sex assault


10News - 2 officers shot dead in Santa Cruz: Loren Baker, Elizabeth Butler were looking into sex assault


SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Authorities have released the names of two Santa Cruz police officers who were shot and killed Tuesday.
 
Santa Cruz police Chief Kevin Vogel says Sgt. Loren Butch Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler were shot and killed as they followed up on a sexual assault investigation Tuesday.
 
Vogel says Baker was a 28-year veteran of the department and Butler was a 10-year veteran of the department.
 
Vogel says Baker was married and the father of two daughters, while Butler leaves behind two young sons.
 
Police did not release the ages of the two officers.
 
The suspect who was also killed in the shooting was identified as 35-year-old Jeremy Goulet.  

The two slain officers were shot at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday while investigating a sexual assault, authorities said.
The suspect was shot and killed a short time later while authorities were pursuing the gunman, the sheriff's office said.
Residents on the adjoining streets where the shootings occurred received an automatic police call warning them to stay locked inside. About half an hour later, more than a dozen semi-automatic shots echoed down the streets in a brief shootout that killed the suspect.
 
Police were going door-to-door in the neighborhood, searching homes, garages, even closets, although the sheriff said authorities didn't know if another suspect remained at large.
 
Police, sheriff's deputies and FBI agents filled intersections, some with guns drawn, in what is ordinarily a quiet, residential neighborhood in the community about 60 miles south of San Francisco.
 
A store clerk a few buildings away from the shooting said the barrage of gunfire was "terrifying."
 
"We ducked. We have big desks so under the desks we went," said the clerk, who spoke on condition of anonymity and asked that her store not be identified because she feared for her safety.
 
She said she remained locked in her store hours after the shooting and was still scared.
 
Two schools were locked down during the shooting. The students were later evacuated by bus to the County Government Center about half a mile away.
 
As darkness fell, helicopters and light aircraft patrolled above the neighborhood, which is about a mile from downtown Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The campus of University of California, Santa Cruz, is about five miles away.
 
The city's mayor, Hilary Bryant, said in a statement that the city was shocked over the shootings.
 
"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," the statement said. "This is an exceptionally shocking and sad day for Santa Cruz and our Police Department."
 
Santa Cruz has faced a recent spate of violence, and community leaders had scheduled a downtown rally Tuesday to speak out against shootings. That and a city council meeting were canceled after teary-eyed city leaders learned of the deaths.
 
Those shootings include the killing of Pauly Silva, a 32-year-old martial arts instructor who was shot outside a popular downtown bar and restaurant on Feb. 9.
 
Two days later, a UC Santa Cruz student waiting at a bus stop was shot in the head during a robbery. She is recovering from her injuries.
 
Then on Feb. 17, a 21-year-old woman was raped and beaten on the UC Santa Cruz campus. Four days later, a Santa Cruz couple fought off two men who came in their home before dawn and threatened them with a sword.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Deputy killed in Christopher Dorner shootout identified as Jeremiah MacKay

Jeremiah MacKay
Deputy killed in Christopher Dorner shootout identified as Jeremiah MacKay 

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy killed by Christopher Dorner during Tuesday's firefight in the San Bernardino mountains has been identified by sources as Jeremiah MacKay, a Redlands resident and 1995 Rim of the World graduate.

The Inland Empire Emerald Society, where MacKay was a sergeant-at-arms, confirmed the death on their Facebook page.

A detective with the sheriff's office, MacKay joined the department in July 1998. He was also a field training officer with the department.


MacKay, 35, was quoted as recently as Saturday to the Associated Press -- regarding the complexity of the manhunt for Dorner: "This one you just never know if the guy's going to pop out, or where he's going to pop out," he said. "We're hoping this comes to a close without more casualties. The best thing would be for him to give up."

Jeremiah MacKay, in a 1994 Rim of the world yearbook. (Courtesy photo) 


Cassie Summers-Silva said she remembered MacKay from high school, when she played volleyball with his sister, now Angie Reynolds.

"He and his family were very supportive throughout our year playing together,"

Summers-Silva said. "Myself as well as my brother went to Rim of the World High School with him. I remember him as a clown and always in good spirits. His family was always so caring, and you could tell family was No. 1."

As of early Wednesday afternoon, the Sheriff's Department had not released the official announcement of his death.

Rim of the World High School Principal, Catherine Obregon, said the department had not yet notified the district but word had reached them verbally.

"This is a small community and about 30 of our graduates are in law enforcement. As of now, it's not official and our teachers don't even know his name." 

Monday, February 11, 2013

Michael Crain, Riverside police officer was 34

Michael Crain
Michael Crain, Riverside police officer was 34


Michael Crain, an 11-year veteran of the Riverside Police Department, was the officer killed the morning of Feb. 7 when allegedly ambushed by rogue ex-LAPD cop Christopher Dorner. 
Crain and his partner were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Arlington and Magnolia avenues in Riverside when authorities believe Dorner drove up after fleeing a shootout with undercover LAPD pursuers in Corona. 


Dorner allegedly opened fire on Crain's car, then fled. He has not been spotted since, though his disabled and burned-out truck was found on a fire road in the San Bernardino Mountains above Big Bear.
Crain is survived by a wife, a 10-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Grove Community Church in Riverside, followed by interment at Riverside National Cemetery. From the Riverside Police Department announcement:
Officer Michael Crain was born in Anaheim, California to Stephen and Cindy Crain on April 9, 1978. He was the oldest of three children and had a brother, Jason, and sister, Leslie. He was raised in the Riverside area and graduated from Redlands High School in 1996.
After high school, Mike attended Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa for a year prior to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He served two deployment tours in Kuwait as a rifleman in the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Battalion 1st Marines. He was a squad leader, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was then stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA, where he taught Military Operations in Urban Terrain. During his military service, Mike was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 star, a Certificate of Commendation, and the Rifle Marksmanship Badge.
After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Mike joined the Riverside Police Department. He graduated from the Riverside Sheriff’s Academy, class #152, and was sworn in as a Riverside Police Officer on August 24, 2001.
Following his graduation from the Field Training Program, he was assigned to Field Operations as a patrol officer. During his 11 year tenure with the Riverside Police Department, Mike served as a patrol officer, and was assigned to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team. He had also served as a Helicopter Observer, a Field Training Officer, a Firearms Instructor, and had been assigned to the University Neighborhood Enhancement Team (UNET).
Mike had a big heart, and enjoyed spending time with his wife, Regina, son, Ian (age 10), and daughter Kaitlyn (age 4). He loved attending dance recitals with his daughter and coaching his son’s baseball team. He also loved his classic 1970 Chevy Nova, which he spent his spare time restoring. Mike’s family and friends knew his usually straight face hid a huge personality. He made an unforgettable impression on everyone he met.
During the early morning of February 7, 2013, Officer Michael Crain was gunned down in an apparent ambush while he was on patrol and parked at a stoplight with a trainee officer. Mike will be missed by his family, friends, and his community.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Buffalo Police Officer Patty Parete Dies

Officer Patty Parete
Buffalo Police Officer Patty Parete Dies


BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo Police Officer Patty Parete has died, the Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Police Benevolent Association announced Saturday.
A spokesperson from the Buffalo Police says Parete, 48, died overnight just after 2 a.m. at her home.
Parete and her partner, Officer Carl Andolina , were shot while answering a call at Elmwood and Chippewa on December 5th, 2006.
The gunman who was convicted in the shooting drew a sentence of 30 years to life.
There is a statement on the Buffalo PBA website from President Jim Panus which reads "Patty had a long, arduous, and brave challenge from a spinal injury as a result of her injuries."  It goes on to state:  "We ask all members of the PBA, their family, and friends to keep Patty and her family in your prayers."    
"My first reaction upon hearing hearing the news of Officer Parete's passing was just total sadness," Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said. "My thoughts, prayers and wishes are with her and her family at this time".
A cause of death has not yet been released.
Castiglia Funeral Home has planned a service scheduled for this Wednesday at Trinity Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m.
We will continue to post more information to this story as it becomes available.
WGRZ-TV