Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, California
End of Watch Saturday, September 5, 1925
Add to My HeroesRichard H. Rountree
Undersheriff Dick Rountree and Sheriff Howard Trafton were shot and killed while attempting to remove a squatter who was living in a shack at Seacliff Park, near Aptos.
The man refused to leave and was placed under arrest. After placing handcuffs on one of the man's wrists, the man suddenly drew a handgun and opened fire, killing Undersheriff Rountree and shooting Sheriff Trafton in the chest. Despite his wounds, Sheriff Trafton returned fire during the shootout and killed the subject. Sheriff Trafton was able to give his account to other responding officers. He succumbed to his gunshot wounds in the hospital.
A search of the shack revealed an arsenal of explosives.
Undersheriff Rountree was survived by his wife, a daughter, and a son who succeeded his father as the Undersheriff. His father had been the second Santa Cruz County Sheriff.
The Rountree Rehabilitation and Re-Entry Facility and the Rountree Detention Center are named after the Rountree family.
Bio
- Age 55
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 10 ReflectionsRest in peace always knowing that no passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)
September 5, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Border Patrol Agent Daniel Salazar
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: May 17, 2022

Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Wayne Cash
Calloway County Sheriff's Office, KY
EOW: May 16, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Walter Donald Jenkins, Jr.
Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: May 11, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Robert Adam Howard
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: May 11, 2022

Patrol Officer Brian Lee Sember
Ottawa Police Department, IL
EOW: April 3, 2022

Sergeant Nicholas W. Tullier
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, LA
EOW: May 5, 2022

Police Officer Darryl Wayne Fortner
Vestavia Hills Police Department, AL
EOW: April 6, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Nicholas D. Weist
Knox County Sheriff's Office, IL
EOW: April 29, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Douglas Warren Sanford
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: March 29, 2022