Santa Cruz, Calif. Fire Truck Caught in Crossfire Hit by Bullets

March 01--SANTA CRUZ -- A city fire truck parked on Doyle Street was caught in the crossfire of Tuesday's showdown between law enforcement and suspected cop killer Jeremy Goulet, getting struck by what authorities believe were four of Goulet's bullets before he was shot dead moments later by officers.

No firefighters were on the truck at the time, Santa Cruz Deputy Fire Chief Mark Ramos said Thursday.

During the gunfire exchange, a Santa Cruz firefighter dived on top of a woman to shield her from possible bullets when she tripped and fell to the ground while fleeing the scene, he said.

Ramos declined to name the firefighter who protected the woman with his body, only that he has worked for the department more than 10 years.

Other firefighters ushered bystanders away from the scene and warned neighbors on North Branciforte Avenue to go back into their homes to avoid the violence unfolding.

Ramos said the incident marks the first time his department has been caught in the middle of gunfire.

"They did their job and performed their job, saving as many people as they could and keeping people out of harm's way," Ramos said. "We run a lot of emergency calls and bad scenes, but we've never responded to a police officer being killed. It's something that hits close to home."

DOING THEIR JOB

The Santa Cruz Fire Department sent seven firefighters, one truck and one engine, to North Branciforte Avenue when the call came Tuesday afternoon that two people had been shot.

Ramos and a battalion chief were stationed at the command post with other law enforcement agencies from around the county.

Firefighters arrived at the fatal scene only to discover their medical aid services weren't needed as police Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker and detective Elizabeth Butler had been gunned down by Goulet while investigating the former military member at his home for a recent break-in and alleged sexual assault.

The fire truck was staged just outside of the official crime scene on Doyle Street while police searched for Goulet, Ramos said.

The engine was staged on Branciforte Avenue near Water Street, he said.

Firefighters assigned to the truck on Doyle Street saw Goulet get out of Baker's patrol car, wearing a bullet-proof vest and armed with two guns, Ramos said.

Firefighters ran from the truck to warn law enforcement the suspect was near, he said.

THE DAMAGE DONE

Firefighters returned to the department's Center Street station about 6 a.m. Wednesday and went home for their regularly scheduled days off.

They are being offered grief counseling, and are expected to return to work next week as scheduled, Ramos said.

"We work very closely with our police department," he said. "We're a small city with big city problems and we're very close, very intimate with our police officers. Most of us know each other on a first name basis. They are truly part of our family."

The four bullets that hit truck No. 3170 caused only cosmetic damage to the 60-foot-long truck, which was purchased in December 2011 for $1 million with a federal grant.

The "tiller" truck, capable of making tight turns and carrying more equipment than standard fire trucks, will be repaired once the dust settles on the investigation, Ramos said.

Meanwhile, the shiny red truck is in service, responding to calls as needed.

"All the lights work on it. There's nothing not working on it," he said. "We've never been this close where a piece of equipment has been hit by a bullet."

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