End of Watch: 6/6/2020

Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller was shot and killed as he and other deputies investigated reports of a suspicious vehicle. Deputies had originally responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle that contained firearms and bomb-making materials in the area of Jamison Creek in Boulder Creek. Deputies then responded to a home on Waldeberg Drive in Ben Lomond that was associated to the van. One deputy observed another van driving up to the home and waited for back up. Several deputies and Sergeant Gutzwiller then began to approach the house and were immediately ambushed with gunfire and improvised explosive devices.
Sergeant Gutzwiller was struck by the gunfire and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. One of the other deputies at the scene was struck by gunfire and an IED. The suspect fled the scene and carjacked another vehicle. He was located a short time later by CHP and engaged officers in another shootout. A California Highway Patrol officer and the suspect were both wounded. While fleeing, the suspect also hit the already injured deputy with the car. The suspect ran to a nearby home where he was held down by a courageous civilian and taken into custody.
In August 2022, the suspect was sentenced to life in prison without the option of parole or appeal after accepting a plea agreement.
Gutzwiller, 38, was a 14-year veteran of the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office. He grew up in Santa Cruz County and attended Cabrillo College in Aptos. He was survived by his partner, Faviola, his 2-year-old son and his unborn daughter.
At his memorial service, he was remembered as a gentle and sensitive soul, an exceptional father, a faithful friend with an infectious, goofy grin and a man wholly devoted to his community. He was a skilled and compassionate law enforcement officer, colleagues said, and it wasn’t uncommon to hear a person Gutzwiller arrested thank him by the end of their interaction.
Gutzwiller, 38, was born in Santa Monica, moved to Santa Cruz in 1989 and graduated from Aptos High School in 1999. He attended Cabrillo College and began volunteering for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office at age 18 as a parking enforcement officer on campus. He was hired as a deputy in 2006 and promoted to Sergeant in December of 2019.
He will forever be remembered by his community, his law enforcement family, the love of his life Faviola, and his two children.