Locals Raise $125 K for Scholarship Fund for Slain Officers' Kids

Local merchants and residents raised $125,000 for scholarships for the children of slain police officers Sgt. Butch Baker and Elizabeth Butler.

The effort was spearheaded by Caleb Baskin, PredPol CEO and was a bit of good news amongst a week of tragedy.

"We are just beginning to pick up the pieces and look toward the future," said Police Chief Kevin Vogel, in a press release. "Without community support, this healing process would take even longer. I'm not sure how long it will take to return to normalcy, but I do know that it wouldn't even be possible if we didn't have support from the community like this."

Baskin started making calls Thursday night and continued Friday morning. By noon he had put together the money for the scholarship fund.

"I work with the department regularly as an attorney as well and they are incredibly supportive of the community," said Baskin. "There are very few things I can do at a time like this and this was something I could do to let them know the community supports them the way they support it."

To donate visit www.cityofsantacruz.com

Baker, 51, is survived by his wife, Kelly and his son Adam, a community services officer and two daughters Jillian and Ashley. Butler, 38,is survived by her partner, Peter Wu, and their sons, Joaquin and Stellan, ages 5 and 2.

Donors included:

Plantronics, Ow Family Businesses, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, PredPol, Baskin & Grant Law Firm, Erik's Deli Café, Barry Swenson Builder, Santa Cruz Warriors, NextSpace Coworking, Lighthouse Bank, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Dell Williams, Sun Shops, Timerie Gordon & Christian Nielson, the Pacific Collegiate Charter School Board of Directors, Joseph Marini III, Whitings Foods, the Penny Ice Creamery, Fred Keeley, Bruce & Mary McPherson, Marybeth Campbell & Carolyn Hill, Ryan Coonerty & Emily Bernard, Mayor Hilary Bryant & David Shuman and Supervisor Zach Friend.