Former Sheriff of Santa Cruz County, killed in the line of duty.
Trafton was Santa Cruz County's first Sheriff to have been born and raised in the region. His family had settled in Pajaro Valley in 1859, and he was born in 1871. Trafton had been Sheriff for 22 years and had earned much respect. Prior to being elected sheriff, Trafton had been hired by Watsonville's early fire department as an engineer, and promoted to the city's marshall in 1902. He was married twice, widowed once and had two sons. As one might expect of the county's veteran sheriff, he was a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and the Knights Templar, along with many other fraternal organizations.
The first marriage of Howard V. Trafton was solemnized m 1895 and united him with Miss Beatrice Soto, who died in 1901, leaving one son, Frank. The following year he was united in marriage with Miss Rose Valdez, by whom he has one son, Chester.
Sheriff Trafton and Undersheriff Richard Rountree (#179188381) were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who was interfering with highway construction crews. Sheriff Trafton was able to return fire during the shootout and killed the suspect.
Other bio:
Howard Trafton was a Sheriff for Santa Cruz County in California. He died in the line of duty at age 54. He and his Undersheriff, Richard Rountree, were attempting to arrest a man who was interfering with construction crews. The man shot and killed the Undersheriff, Sheriff Trafton returned fire, killing the suspect. But had been mortally wounded himself, died of his wounds.
Trafton was Santa Cruz County's first Sheriff to have been born and raised in the region. His family had settled in Pajaro Valley in 1859, and he was born in 1871. Trafton had been Sheriff for 22 years and had earned much respect. Prior to being elected sheriff, Trafton had been hired by Watsonville's early fire department as an engineer, and promoted to the city's marshall in 1902. He was married twice, widowed once and had two sons. As one might expect of the county's veteran sheriff, he was a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and the Knights Templar, along with many other fraternal organizations.
The first marriage of Howard V. Trafton was solemnized m 1895 and united him with Miss Beatrice Soto, who died in 1901, leaving one son, Frank. The following year he was united in marriage with Miss Rose Valdez, by whom he has one son, Chester.
Sheriff Trafton and Undersheriff Richard Rountree (#179188381) were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who was interfering with highway construction crews. Sheriff Trafton was able to return fire during the shootout and killed the suspect.
Other bio:
Howard Trafton was a Sheriff for Santa Cruz County in California. He died in the line of duty at age 54. He and his Undersheriff, Richard Rountree, were attempting to arrest a man who was interfering with construction crews. The man shot and killed the Undersheriff, Sheriff Trafton returned fire, killing the suspect. But had been mortally wounded himself, died of his wounds.
Former Sheriff of Santa Cruz County, killed in the line of duty.
Trafton was Santa Cruz County's first Sheriff to have been born and raised in the region. His family had settled in Pajaro Valley in 1859, and he was born in 1871. Trafton had been Sheriff for 22 years and had earned much respect. Prior to being elected sheriff, Trafton had been hired by Watsonville's early fire department as an engineer, and promoted to the city's marshall in 1902. He was married twice, widowed once and had two sons. As one might expect of the county's veteran sheriff, he was a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and the Knights Templar, along with many other fraternal organizations.
The first marriage of Howard V. Trafton was solemnized m 1895 and united him with Miss Beatrice Soto, who died in 1901, leaving one son, Frank. The following year he was united in marriage with Miss Rose Valdez, by whom he has one son, Chester.
Sheriff Trafton and Undersheriff Richard Rountree (#179188381) were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who was interfering with highway construction crews. Sheriff Trafton was able to return fire during the shootout and killed the suspect.
Other bio:
Howard Trafton was a Sheriff for Santa Cruz County in California. He died in the line of duty at age 54. He and his Undersheriff, Richard Rountree, were attempting to arrest a man who was interfering with construction crews. The man shot and killed the Undersheriff, Sheriff Trafton returned fire, killing the suspect. But had been mortally wounded himself, died of his wounds.
Trafton was Santa Cruz County's first Sheriff to have been born and raised in the region. His family had settled in Pajaro Valley in 1859, and he was born in 1871. Trafton had been Sheriff for 22 years and had earned much respect. Prior to being elected sheriff, Trafton had been hired by Watsonville's early fire department as an engineer, and promoted to the city's marshall in 1902. He was married twice, widowed once and had two sons. As one might expect of the county's veteran sheriff, he was a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and the Knights Templar, along with many other fraternal organizations.
The first marriage of Howard V. Trafton was solemnized m 1895 and united him with Miss Beatrice Soto, who died in 1901, leaving one son, Frank. The following year he was united in marriage with Miss Rose Valdez, by whom he has one son, Chester.
Sheriff Trafton and Undersheriff Richard Rountree (#179188381) were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who was interfering with highway construction crews. Sheriff Trafton was able to return fire during the shootout and killed the suspect.
Other bio:
Howard Trafton was a Sheriff for Santa Cruz County in California. He died in the line of duty at age 54. He and his Undersheriff, Richard Rountree, were attempting to arrest a man who was interfering with construction crews. The man shot and killed the Undersheriff, Sheriff Trafton returned fire, killing the suspect. But had been mortally wounded himself, died of his wounds.
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