Undersheriff Richard H. Rountree

Richard 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.