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.