Torrance, CA (February 27, 2013): Bishop Montgomery is in mourning as we lost a member of the community when Santa Cruz police detective Beth Butler '92 was killed in the line of duty yesterday. Butler and Sgt. Loran Baker were fatally shot while trying to question a man who was later killed in a police shootout.
Butler was a 10-year veteran of the Santa Cruz Police Department who worked as a patrol officer, hostage negotiator, downtown foot and bike officer, and an agent assigned to the Santa Cruz County drug task force.
While at Bishop Montgomery, Butler was an excellent student who was a member of CSF, the Mountaineering Club, and participated in volleyball and track. After graduation, she moved north to attend UC Santa Cruz, where she earned her degree in communications.
She is survived by her partner, Peter, and two children.