Early Wednesday procession honors the life of fallen deputy

APTOS, Calif. (KION) Before the memorial service for Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller started at Cabrillo College Wednesday morning, a procession fleet of law enforcement and first responders escorting his body to the school's stadium meandered through the streets of Aptos and Santa Cruz.

The procession was marked with both a sense of solemnity for the man who was lost as well as a camaraderie for those who also wear the law enforcement uniform.

One of the first stops for the procession was on Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz, where dozens of people had already gathered along the sidewalk to honor Sgt. Gutzwiller's life and service.

Many people held up signs with words of encouragement for the family, while others waved American flags or held their hand over their hearts. Law enforcement and first responders not only from Central Coast counties, but also Bay Area ones joined in the procession to honor a brother in uniform.

One Santa Cruz resident who attended the procession told KION he actually cried when he first heard the news of Gutzwiller's death.

"It's very sad. You know, these people are the ones a lot of people are protesting against have families just like me. I'm a grandfather, but they have children at home and wives and mothers and fathers," said Harold Brown. "It's just so sad to see them disrespected when they are putting their own lives on hold and on the line for us."

The procession carried on to Capitola Mall and ultimately ended at Cabrillo College for the memorial service that was scheduled about an hour later. The gathering is a testament to how closely knit the law enforcement community is even across cities and counties and agencies, all there to support each other.