The Santa Cruz Warriors are just weeks away from tipping off the 2021-22 NBA G League season.
During the league’s season-opening weekend, the Sea Dubs will pay special tribute to Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty in June 2020.
The annual Local Heroes Night celebration, which commemorates local public safety members, will take place Nov. 6 at Kaiser Permanente Arena, when the Warriors host the Stockton Kings at 7pm.
Gutzwiller, who served in the sheriff’s office for 14 years, was fatally shot when he was responding to a 911 emergency call in Ben Lomond during which he was ambushed by gunfire.
The Santa Cruz native, 38, left behind his wife, Favi, and two young children.
This year’s Local Heroes Night will honor Gutzwiller. His family will be invited to pregame warmups and his children will be given custom jerseys. A memorial video will be shown during halftime and a banner honoring Gutzwiller will be unveiled in the arena.
The Warriors will also make a check presentation and donation to the kids’ education fund.
“It is our hope that this night will bring the community together to celebrate Sergeant Gutzwiller’s life and sacrifice to the Santa Cruz community,” the Warriors said in a release.
LOCAL HEROES NIGHT
Who: Stockton at Santa Cruz
When: Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front Street
