Community mourns fallen Santa Cruz County Sheriff Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller at memorial service

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Thursday, June 18, 2020
Community mourns fallen Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff sergeant
A memorial service was held for Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was shot and killed in the line of duty earlier this month.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KGO) -- A memorial service was held Wednesday morning for the Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy who was shot and killed in the line of duty earlier this month.



The procession for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller was held earlier Wednesday, with several viewing points throughout the county.



RELATED: 'We lost a hero': 38-year-old deputy killed, 2 officers injured after ambush in Santa Cruz County, sheriff says



Watch the video above to hear some of what was said by family and friends at the service.



Sgt. Gutzwiller was shot and killed while responding to a report of a suspicious van near Ben Lomond on June 6.



Gutzwiller worked for the sheriff's office since 2006 and is survived by his pregnant wife and young child. Sheriff Jim Hart described him as a courageous, intelligent, sensitive and caring man.



"Words cannot express the pain we feel for Damon and his family," Hart said. "He was the kind of person we all hope to be. Today, we lost a hero. We are grateful to have known him and we mourn with his family."

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