On November 23, 2020, at approximately 7:05 pm, Officer Andy Ornelas of the CHP Antelope Valley Area Office was responding to assist with a traffic collision on SR-14. While on his way to the scene, a motorist pulled from the right shoulder to make a U-turn directly in his path. Officer Ornelas’ motorcycle struck the other vehicle causing him to be thrown from his motorcycle. Officer Ornelas sustained multiple injuries and was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital in critical condition.

Despite significant life-saving efforts by medical personnel, on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, Officer Ornelas succumbed to his injuries.

Officer Ornelas, age 27, was a four-year veteran of the Department. He had been assigned to the Antelope Valley Area since December 2019. He followed in the footsteps of his mother, Kellie, who is a retired CHP officer from the same Antelope Valley Area office, and his father, Arturo, a motorcycle officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. He is survived by his wife, Taylor; a brother, Cody, who is a CHP officer assigned to the Central Los Angeles Area office; his sister, Nikki; and an uncle, retired CHP Captain Andreas Ornelas.

A memorial fund has been set up through the CAHP Credit Union. You can make donations on their website, or mail a check to:

Officer Andy Ornelas Memorial Fund
PO Box 276507
Sacramento, CA 95827

On March 31, 2020, Detective Marylou Armer of the Santa Rosa Police Department passed away due to complications from COVID-19.  Detective Armer, age 43, was a 20-year veteran of the Santa Rosa Police Department, beginning her service as a Field Evidence Technician in 1999. She became a Police Officer in May 2008 and served in the DVSA unit as a Detective where she was dedicated to protecting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Detective Armer is survived by her husband and daughter. 

Damon Christopher Gutzwiller was born June 29, 1981, in Santa Monica to Vicki Ellen Gutzwiller. Growing up Damon enjoyed playing hockey and going fishing with his grandpa Victor.

In 1989, Damon moved with his mother to Santa Cruz County settling first in Live Oak and then later Watsonville. He graduated from Aptos High School in 1999, and then attended Cabrillo College, earning an associates degree. While in college, Damon volunteered for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office as parking enforcement on campus. His Sergeant, Jim Hart, encouraged him to join the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team as a volunteer, which Damon enjoyed for several years.

In 2006, Damon was hired by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and attended the Gavilan Police Academy, graduating with class SB79. Over his years with the Sheriff’s Office, Damon worked as a patrol deputy, court security bailiff, field training officer, TASER instructor, SWAT operator, Unmanned Aerial System operator, CSI detective, Alcohol Compliance Officer, and finally Sergeant, running a patrol shift since 2019. In 14 years, Damon received 10 commendations for exceptional work.

In 2012 Damon met the love of his life, Favi. Deeply in love, they shared so much together—a wonderful house in the Soquel hills, countless trips to Lake Tahoe, their dogs Shasta and Riley, and walks on the beach. In 2018 they welcomed their son Carter to the world.

Damon was an incredible father to Carter, digging in the dirt with his son for hours. Whatever he was doing, Damon would drop everything to play with his son. Damon loved singing, dancing, reading books, and just acting silly with Carter. Countless bike and scooter rides, walks to the park, fishing, and hikes through the forest were part of their happy and loving life. Damon’s incredible smile was amplified three-fold the second he saw Carter. He was so happy to be a father. Weeks after Damon’s death, Favi gave birth to their second child Lucia.

On June 6, 2020, Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller was shot and killed when he and other deputies were ambushed by the driver of a suspicious vehicle. Damon is survived by his wife Favi, son Carter, daughter Lucia, mother Vicki, aunts Carole and Pat, and Favi’s loving family Pascual, Micaela, Mickey, Junior, Marco, Salvador, and Miguel.

Damon was not only universally loved by the men and women he worked with and supervised, but by the community he served. He was famous throughout the office for his ever-present smile, extraordinary patience, calm manner, and incredible sense of humor. Always generous, Damon exemplified generosity and dedication, and the memories of his service will live on as an example for his fellow deputies and his children.

In the early morning hours of April 2, 2020, Deputy Terrell Young, a 15-year veteran of the Riverside Sheriff’s Department, passed away from complications related to the COVID-19 virus. 

Deputy Young had been assigned to the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.  At the time, 18 inmates tested positive for COVID-19.  During the week of March 16, 2020 Deputy Young escorted a COVID-19 positive inmate to the Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley. Deputy Young returned the inmate to his cell at the detention center that same day. On March 22, Deputy Young arrived at his work station at the jail and fell ill, reporting a fever.  On March 26, Deputy Young was diagnosed as COVID-19 positive.  On March 27, Deputy Young was admitted to the intensive care unit at Loma Linda Hospital in Murrieta with complaints of respiratory distress.  He was subsequently diagnosed with respiratory failure and placed on a mechanical ventilator. On April 2, Deputy Young developed bradycardia.  Although ICU personnel attempted advanced lifesaving measures, Deputy Young tragically passed away at 0330.

Deputy Terrell Young, age 52, is survived by his wife of 31 years and four children.

 

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 23, 2019, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office received a request for service for suspected theft at a residential marijuana grow in the area of Sand Ridge Road and Mt. Aukumn Road in Somerset.  Deputy Brian Ishmael responded to the call and was immediately ambushed and struck by gunfire.  Deputy Ishmael’s ride-along, an off-duty Deputy from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, returned fire, striking one of the suspects and also taking gunfire himself.  Tragically, Deputy Ishmael’s injuries were not survivable. The SJSO Deputy underwent surgery and was released from the hospital. 

The wounded male suspect was transported to the hospital and a second suspect was taken into custody as deputies continued to search the area for any remaining suspects. The investigation determined the person who requested service had a business relationship with the two suspects and was not truthful with dispatchers in his initial 911 call.  That individual was arrested and charged with murder. The other two suspects have been charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon, and accessory to murder, respectively.

Deputy Brian Ishmael, age 37, was a 4-year veteran with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and previously served two years with the Placerville Police Department. Deputy Ishmael is survived by his wife and three children.

The CAHP Credit Union has established a memorial fund for the Ishmael family:  https://cahpcu.org/DeputyBrianIshmaelMemorialFund?fbclid=IwAR0sBBLGvl2vsO6cZbLuQ2CSSrpBPCY5mDOssXan8ZLeWX3mtb2mrNN4ypg

Donations can also be sent to:

Deputy Brian Ishmael Memorial Fund
PO Box 276507
Sacramento, CA 95827

 

At approximately 5:37pm on Monday, August 12, 2019, Officer Andre Moye, Jr., of the CHP Riverside Area Office conducted a traffic stop on a white GMC truck in the area of Box Springs Boulevard and Eastridge Avenue, just west of Interstate 215.

During the traffic stop Officer Moye determined the truck should be impounded. As Officer Moye processed the paperwork and called for a tow, the driver returned to his vehicle, retrieved a rifle, and opened fire on Officer Moye. Despite suffering life threatening wounds, Officer Moye was able to call for backup. Three CHP officers arrived on scene and immediately engaged the suspect. Two of those officers were struck by gunfire. Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies and Riverside Police officers also responded to the scene, exchanging gunfire with the suspect. “It was a long and horrific gun battle, and resulted in a very extensive crime scene,” said Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz.

The suspect was killed at the scene. He was later identified as 49-year old Aaron Luther, a member of the Vagos motorcycle gang.

Officer Moye was airlifted to Riverside University Health System Medical Center. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries in flight. The two wounded CHP officers are expected to recover.

Officer Andre Moye, age 33, was assigned to the Riverside office after graduating from the CHP Academy on March 3, 2017. He previously worked as an electrician, but had dreamed of being an officer since he was a child. He is survived by his wife, Sara, his parents, siblings, and large extended family.

Additional details and funeral information will be provided as available.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2019, Sacramento Police Department Officers received reports of a domestic disturbance between a man and a woman at a home in north Sacramento near Edgewater Road and Redwood Avenue.  Later that afternoon officers were assisting the woman with retrieving her belongings from the home when at approximately 6:10pm the man entered the home and opened fire with a rifle. Officer Tara O’Sullivan was struck and went down in a yard. Other officers on scene were forced to take cover and could not immediately get to Officer O’Sullivan. An armored vehicle was dispatched to assist and Officer O’Sullivan was transported to UC Davis Medical Center, where despite heroic efforts by all, she succumbed to her injuries. 

 

A standoff ensued into the early morning hours of June 20th with the suspect firing at officers numerous times before ultimately surrendering.

 

Officer O’Sullivan, age 26, was part of the first class of graduates of Sacramento State’s Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars program in 2017. She then joined the Sacramento Police Department in January 2018 and was accepted into the police academy in July 2018, She graduated from the academy in December 2018.