Viewing Held For Slain Santa Cruz Officers On Eve Of Memorial
SANTA CRUZ (CBS SF) -- A public viewing was held Wednesday for two Santa Cruz police officers who were killed in a shooting on Feb. 26.
The walk-through viewing of caskets containing the bodies of police Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler took place at the Santa Cruz Memorial funeral home at 1927 Ocean St.
On Thursday, a noon memorial service will be held for the two veteran officers at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Live coverage of the service will air on KPIX 5.
A procession that will include Santa Cruz-area law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics and family members of the officers will begin near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk at 8:45 a.m.
Motorists are advised to expect traffic delays.
The procession will begin at Beach Street proceeding left to Third Street, then right on Riverside Avenue, right on San Lorenzo Boulevard, left on Ocean Street, then onto northbound state Highway 17.
When it reaches San Jose, the procession will head south on state Highway 85, north on Highway 87, then exit at Julian Street, near the HP Pavilion.
The procession, expected to stretch as far as 2 miles, is due to arrive at the pavilion between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Baker and Butler were gunned down on North Branciforte Avenue in Santa Cruz the afternoon of Feb. 26 while following up on a report of a misdemeanor sexual assault.
The alleged shooter, 35-year-old Jeremy Goulet, was later killed in a shootout with authorities.
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