On September 4, 2012, at approximately 0820 hours, Officer Kenyon Youngstrom of the CHP Contra Costa command was on patrol on I-680 southbound. He had just completed an enforcement stop on a motorist when his beat partner, Officer Tyler Carlton, advised Officer Youngstrom he was approaching Youngstrom’s location, following a motorist driving a Jeep on which he intended to initiate an enforcement stop.

As the Jeep approached in stop-and-go traffic, Officer Youngstrom waved the driver to the shoulder of I-680 and the driver complied, stopping behind the parked patrol vehicle. Officer Carlton followed the Jeep to the shoulder and stopped his patrol vehicle behind the Jeep. Officer Youngstrom approached the driver and engaged in a brief conversation when the driver produced a handgun and shot Officer Youngstrom. Officer Carlton drew his weapon and shot the driver, inflicting lethal injuries. Officer Carlton requested assistance and provided Officer Youngstrom with medical aid until he was relieved by responding personnel.

Officer Youngstrom was transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, with life threatening injuries. On Wednesday, September 6 at 1805 hours, Officer Youngstrom, age 37, was pronounced deceased with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife Karen, and four children ages 5 to 17; his parents, Gaylord and Jill Youngstrom of Riverside, CA.; four brothers and a sister.

Officer Youngstrom entered the CHP Academy in August 2005, and was assigned to the CHP’s Contra Costa Area upon graduation in February 2006. He transferred to the CHP’s Golden Gate Division headquarters in January 2009, and had transferred back to the Contra Costa Area office on August 1, 2012. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1994 to 2000, achieving the rank of Specialist.

Officer Kenyon Youngstrom is survived by his wife Karen, and four children ages 5 to 17; his parents, Gaylord and Jill Youngstrom of Riverside, CA.; four brothers and a sister.

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2012, two Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriffs arrived at a fourplex residence in the 2100 block of Chrysler Drive in Modesto to serve an eviction notice, reportedly accompanied by a civilian locksmith.  As they were attempting service, an occupant of the residence opened fire, striking and mortally wounding Deputy Robert Paris and the civilian, later identified as 35 year old Glendon Engert.  The second deputy was not wounded and reportedly returned fire.  The suspect barricaded himself in the residence and a standoff ensued.  Law enforcement from throughout the region responded and the neighborhood was evacuated.

Later that night a fire erupted, destroying the home.  The body of a man believed to be the murder suspect was found in the charred ruins of the fourplex. Investigators said they found evidence that suggests the gunman was prepared for an armed confrontation with police, including numerous weapons and equipment, a high-powered assault rifle, ammunition, a gas mask, and police-style radios.  The gunman was also wearing a ballistic vest.

Deputy Paris, age 53, was a 16 year veteran of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department.  He is survived by his parents, brother, sister, and two adult children.  Paris was hired at the department as a reserve deputy in May 1996, and he became a full-time employee in August 1998. He was a graduate of Tracy High School and the Ray Simon Criminal Justice Training Center in Modesto.  Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said Paris had strong interpersonal skills and fit well in a variety of positions. “He was a compassionate, caring individual who always put others’ needs before his own,” Christianson said. “He was a good deputy. He just loved serving the community.”

At approximately 2:40am on Tuesday, December 24, Deputy Jeremy Meyst with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department was transporting two inmates from the department’s Porterville substation to the main jail in Visalia, traveling north on Spruce Road toward Highway 198. For unknown reasons Deputy Meyst lost control of his transport van and clipped the guard rail of the Friant-Kern Canal bridge. Deputy Meyst was ejected from the vehicle. Responding officers from the Woodlake and Exeter police departments arrived on scene and performed CPR. Meyst was rushed to Kaweah Delta Medical Center where, tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. The two inmates suffered minor injuries.

Deputy Meyst was raised in the Visalia area and graduated from Mt. Whitney High School in 2001. Deputy Meyst was hired by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department in October of 2004 as a Detention Services Officer. In April of 2006, he was promoted to Correctional Deputy. His last assignment was at the Sheriff’s Main Jail Facility.

Deputy Meyst, age 31, is survived by his wife and two young sons age 7 and 9.

At approximately 11:30pm on Saturday, September 21, just 30 minutes prior to finishing his shift, Laguna Beach Motor Officer Jon Coutchie was traveling northbound on Coast Highway, responding to a call of a speeding motorist who had evaded another officer. While attempting to locate the speeding vehicle, Jon was involved in a collision with a Chevrolet pickup truck in the intersection with Cleo Street. Citizens rushed to assist the fallen officer. “As soon as I saw him go down, I ran up to help the poor guy and he was already lifeless,” witness Ian Paul said. Paul, who was walking in the area at the time, said he stayed with the officer as another citizen administered CPR. Fellow officers quickly responded and after finding Officer Coutchie had tragically succumbed to his injuries, one officer ran to a local supermarket for an American Flag. Officer Coutchie’s body was draped in that American Flag as an honor to his sacrifice as an Army Ranger and Laguna Beach Police Officer.

Officer Coutchie was born in Tucson, Arizona on October 2, 1971, and raised in Orange County where he graduated from Laguna Hills High School in 1989. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Officer Coutchie enlisted in the military and became an Army Ranger. He served his country from 2003-2007 and completed tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Officer Coutchie applied for a part-time Jailer position at the Laguna Beach Police Department. He showed great enthusiasm for his job and excelled with each assignment. Laguna Beach PD sponsored him through the Goldenwest Police Academy in 2008. Officer Coutchie successfully completed this training in March of 2009 and was immediately sworn in as a Laguna Beach Police Officer. In March of 2013, Officer Coutchie applied and was selected for one of the coveted Motor Officer positions with the department.

Officer Jon Coutchie is survived by his mother, father, brother, step-sister, and girlfriend.

This is Laguna Beach PD’s first line-of-duty death since 1953.

On the morning of March 25, 2013, Officer Gilbert Cortez was part of a convoy of CDCR K9 officers en route to initiate a strategic search mission for illegal drugs and contraband at the La Cima Fire Camp in rural San Diego County. He was leading four other K-9 teams in separate vehicles driving south on State Highway 79 when his marked unit veered off the roadway, struck a large boulder and overturned, killing K9 Mattie instantly. Officer Cortez was critically wounded, but survived the crash. He was transported by ambulance to a local fire station where a medevac-landing zone had been set up. Tragically, Officer Cortez passed away before the medevac helicopter could reach him.

Officer Cortez, age 46, started his career at CDCR in 1990 at the California Institution for Men. The next year, he transferred to Calipatria State Prison where he was assigned to the Investigative Services Unit and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In 2001, Cortez was transferred to CRC where he subsequently completed K-9 training.

On April 9, 2014, hundreds gathered at Grove Community Church in Riverside to say goodbye to Officer Gilbert Cortez. Bagpipers led the procession into the church as uniformed officers, including four K9 teams, stood in rows saluting silently.

Cortez was born in Santa Ana in 1966, the youngest of six children. He attended Norco High School and was a pitcher for the baseball team. He played baseball all his life — with amateur teams at the department of corrections — and he coached Little League.

He was remembered as an upbeat, positive man. “He was always happy, always encouraging. He was one of the greatest guys,” said Reggie Diamond, a colleague of Cortez’s for more than three years.

Cortez’s partner, Officer Mike Vega, said he was like a brother and he trusted him every day with his life. “You need somebody to watch your back at all times…you need to know somebody’s there for you when you go into harm’s way,” Vega said. “Gilbert was that person for me.”

Marisa Cortez, Officer Cortez’s daughter, bravely addressed the congregation. “I’ll miss hearing him pull up in his K9 car and his voice telling Mattie to go in the back yard,” she told the crowd, her voice shaking.

Officer Cortez is survived by his wife Nohema; their two children, Andy and Marisa; his parents, Salud and Esperanza Cortez; sisters Irma Cortes, Martha Ruiz, and Sandra Ruiz; brother Saul Cortez. He was preceded in death by his sister Ortensia Sandoval.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on February 27, 2013, Sergeant Loran “Butch” Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler, of the Santa Cruz Police Department were investigating a sexual assault complaint just northeast of downtown Santa Cruz.

Sgt. Baker and Det. Butler made contact with suspect Jeremy Peter Goulet of Santa Cruz through the front door of Goulet’s home on North Branciforte Avenue, but he refused to come outside. The suspect then exited his home through another door and surprised the officers, shooting them with a .45-caliber handgun registered in his name. Goulet then stole their service weapons, along with Baker’s vehicle and the body armor within the vehicle.

Responding officers set up a perimeter, and a multi-agency team secured the North Branciforte area. Trapped by officers, Goulet abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot back toward his home. A gun battle ensued, with Goulet firing two handguns, hitting a firetruck, sending firefighters, medical personnel, and civilians scrambling. Three Santa Cruz police officers and a Santa Cruz sheriff’s deputy returned fire, killing Goulet. Authorities discovered Goulet was wearing body armor and had three guns in his possession. The 35-year-old Goulet had a long history of run-ins with the law, was a suspect in the sexual battery of a girl and a rape in Hawaii, and had airline tickets for a flight to New Mexico.

Sergeant Baker, a 28-year veteran, is survived by his wife Kelly, daughters Jillian and Ashley, and son Adam who is a community service officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Detective Butler, a 10-year veteran, is survived by her partner Peter Wu and their sons Joaquin and Stellan, ages 5 and 2.

This is the first loss “In the Line of Duty” suffered by the Santa Cruz Police Department in its 150 year history.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on February 27, 2013, Sergeant Loran “Butch” Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler, of the Santa Cruz Police Department were investigating a sexual assault complaint just northeast of downtown Santa Cruz.

Sgt. Baker and Det. Butler made contact with suspect Jeremy Peter Goulet of Santa Cruz through the front door of Goulet’s home on North Branciforte Avenue, but he refused to come outside. The suspect then exited his home through another door and surprised the officers, shooting them with a .45-caliber handgun registered in his name. Goulet then stole their service weapons, along with Baker’s vehicle and the body armor within the vehicle.

Responding officers set up a perimeter, and a multi-agency team secured the North Branciforte area. Trapped by officers, Goulet abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot back toward his home. A gun battle ensued, with Goulet firing two handguns, hitting a firetruck, sending firefighters, medical personnel, and civilians scrambling. Three Santa Cruz police officers and a Santa Cruz sheriff’s deputy returned fire, killing Goulet. Authorities discovered Goulet was wearing body armor and had three guns in his possession. The 35-year-old Goulet had a long history of run-ins with the law, was a suspect in the sexual battery of a girl and a rape in Hawaii, and had airline tickets for a flight to New Mexico.

Sergeant Baker, a 28-year veteran, is survived by his wife Kelly, daughters Jillian and Ashley, and son Adam who is a community service officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Detective Butler, a 10-year veteran, is survived by her partner Peter Wu and their sons Joaquin and Stellan, ages 5 and 2.

This is the first loss “In the Line of Duty” suffered by the Santa Cruz Police Department in its 150 year history.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Detective Jeremiah MacKay was part of multi-agency tactical operation assigned to apprehend a fugitive wanted for the murders of two civilians on February 3, and a Riverside Police Officer on February 7.

At approximately 12:22 p.m. on February 12, a report came in that a person matching the suspect’s description had stolen a vehicle from a home near the ski resort area of Big Bear. Responding officers pursued the suspect who eventually fled a second stolen vehicle and barricaded himself inside a nearby cabin. A massive gun battle erupted and two deputies were shot. Both were airlifted to Loma Linda University Hospital, where officials later confirmed Detective Jeremiah MacKay had succumbed to his injuries. The second deputy underwent surgery and is expected to survive.

Detective Jeremiah MacKay, age 35, began his career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in 1998 as a Deputy Sheriff. The 14-year veteran worked patrol at the Twin Peaks and Central Stations. In 2006 he was promoted to Detective and assigned to the Training Division where he taught his colleagues tactical and firearms training. His most recent assignment was at the Yucaipa Station.

Detective MacKay is survived by his wife Lynette, daughter Kaytlin (7), and son Cayden James (4-months).

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Riverside Police Officer Michael Crain and his partner were in a marked patrol unit stopped at an intersection. Both officers were ambushed by a reported suspect who fired multiple rounds from a rifle into their vehicle. Officer Crain, age 35, tragically succumbed to his injuries. His partner underwent emergency surgery and is recovering.

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 Crain 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, Crain 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, Crain 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, Officer Crain 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).

Officer Crain is survived by 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.

On January 15, 2013, at approximately 1130 hours, Galt Police Officers were called to a burglary in progress at an apartment complex in the 200 block of F Street. Officer Kevin Tonn, age 35, was waived down by a citizen at the complex who had just then spotted a man matching the suspect description walking near railroad tracks in a nearby field. Officer Tonn made contact with the male subject and an altercation ensued. The suspect pulled a handgun from his person and fired one shot, striking and mortally wounding Officer Tonn. A second officer who had just arrived on scene witnessed the shooting, called for assistance, and gave chase. Gunfire was exchanged as a third officer arrived on scene. Neither responding officers were wounded and the suspect then used his handgun to take his own life.

Officer Tonn was transported to Kaiser Permanente South Medical Center, where tragically he was pronounced deceased. He is survived by his parents and many family members, including his K-9 partner “Yaro.”

A native of Roseville, CA, Officer Kevin Tonn was a 3 ½ year veteran of Galt Police Department. Prior to his tenure with Galt PD, he served as an MPO in the United States Army. As a civilian he served as an Emergency Medical Technician, a firefighter and fire inspector, before returning to law enforcement.