Local residents unite to honor, remember fallen northern Utah officers

On the day when Tremonton’s community was supposed to line the streets for the all horse parade as part of the Box Elder County Fair, the area’s residents instead gathered in mourning for two police officers killed in the line of duty.

Two Tremonton-Garland police officers were shot and killed Sunday night after responding to a domestic violence call. Another officer was injured, along with a K-9, but that officer has since been released from the hospital, and the K-9 is reportedly in stable condition.

The town, already adorned with American flags, was lined with residents paying respects on Monday evening with blue ribbons in tow as the procession of Tremonton-Garland Police Sgt. Lee Sorensen, 56, and Officer Eric Estrada, 31, was escorted by a police motorcade.

Members of the small town in northern Utah said they couldn’t believe a tragedy like this would ever occur in a tight-knit community like Tremonton.

Tisha Yarrington, who helped gather the community members for the evening procession, said there has been an outpouring of help from across the county and state. “We’re hoping to get people lining up from Salt Lake all the way to Logan,” where Estrada worked for Logan Police Department as a part time officer before going to Tremonton Police Department, she said on Monday prior to the procession. “We love our officers, and we love their families, and we’re just heartbroken over all of this,” she told the Deseret News.

The procession route began in Taylorsville at the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner and traveled to a Tremonton mortuary, and then to Logan for a final stop.

Tremonton closed all city offices at noon on Monday to prepare for the procession.

Utah Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, told the Deseret News that he couldn’t fathom the crimes committed against the law enforcement officers.

“I’m appalled that such a heinous and heartbreaking incident took place in our community. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen officers. I cannot begin to comprehend the anguish they must be feeling, knowing their loved ones gave their lives to keep us safe. While nothing can replace what has been lost, I know the Tremonton community will come together to support them during this incredibly difficult time.”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox ordered that Utah and American flags fly at half-staff to honor Sorensen and Estrada until the day of interment.

“Today, our hearts are broken. Sgt. Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada gave their lives in service to their neighbors and community. Abby and I join all Utahns in mourning alongside their families, the Tremonton-Garland Police Department, and every officer who puts on the uniform to protect others,” Cox said in a press release.

“We owe these heroes a debt that can never be repaid. As we grieve, let us also recommit to supporting the men and women of law enforcement who stand on the front lines to keep our neighborhoods safe. May God bless the Sorensen and Estrada families, and all those who are hurting in this time of loss.”

A community in mourning

Throughout the day on Monday, flowers began to fill the entrance of the Garland Police Department, located in the heart of Tremonton, as more and more mourners came by to grieve.

Tears filled the eyes of Kristina, a former colleague of the fallen officers, who asked that her full name not be used. She said the loss of these men is a devastation that has rocked the entire community.

“Families didn’t have them come home last night. I never expected this to happen here. Everybody’s lives have changed after last night,” Kristina said. “They were brave. They loved this community, they protected this community, and they were selfless.”

Although she did not know either officer, Tremonton resident and retired Air Force Master Sgt. Zita Walters explained that she brought flowers out of respect. She understands what it’s like to work in a profession where the highest sacrifice could be your life.

“The ultimate sacrifice is always a possibility,” she told the Deseret News of her and her husband’s experience in the Air Force. “And so we have that heightened sense of value for human life and what that means to serve. And so I just wanted to express to them that there are more citizens who support them, who have their back than would ever dare to draw arms on them.”

She added, “you can feel the heaviness, the sadness, the shared mourning, everywhere you kind of go around town, just driving, you can feel the heavy weight of this loss, and it’s the senselessness of it.”

A former deputy sheriff for Weber County, Ray Day, said he and his wife, Beverly, came to pay their respects at the police station because these are his brothers.

“We all know the price when we go out and we get in these cars and we kiss these families goodbye and we don’t know if it’s the last time we’re going to kiss them goodbye,” Day said. “We got out there for our love of the citizens.”

“I’m retired, but this oath is to serve and protect. It doesn’t say only certain people. It’s to protect and to serve all people, regardless of race, color, creed or anything at all,” he said, “and that’s exactly what our officers were doing.”

On Sunday evening, the officers responded to multiple 911 hang-up calls regarding domestic violence from a Tremonton neighborhood. An officer was speaking to a resident of the home when the alleged shooter, Ryan Michael Bate, 32, emerged from the house and began shooting at the officer, according to police reports.

Bate “was armed with a high-powered rifle,” according to a police booking affidavit.

“Bate opened fire on two officers, fatally wounding both. A Box Elder County K-9 deputy, responding to a call for backup, was also shot while inside his vehicle. The deputy sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Bullets penetrating the vehicle struck the deputy’s police service K-9 in the rear compartment, causing serious injuries; the K-9 is expected to survive,” the affidavit states.

“The investigation revealed that, prior to police arrival, Bate had assaulted his wife by slamming her head into a door frame,” the affidavit says.

Bate was booked into the Weber County Jail for investigation of two counts of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and assault.