April 20, 1947 It was on April 20,
1947, while patrolling Boulder Creek located a few miles southwest of
Whiskeytown, that Warden Walter Krukow came upon Stanford Lee
Johnson, a seventeen year old youth, illegally fishing. He instructed
the young man to quit fishing and to go home. Instead, the youth ran
three miles to the home of William Fish, retrieved a rifle and Fish's
1940 Pontiac sedan. He then drove back to Boulder Creek, found Warden
Krukow and shot him three times - killing him. Johnson stated he
had gotten the rifle to protect Fish, who was also fishing that day
on Boulder Creek. He said he saw Warden Krukow |
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sneaking through the brush and thought he was reaching for his gun.
The youth later plead guilty to second degree murder and was placed
in the California Youth Authority Prison. He was paroled thirteen
months later.
Warden Walter Krukow was a highly respected peace Officer and well
liked by his peers and community.
Tragically, Warden Krukow left behind a wife, Virginia, a small son,
Walter Jr., and a daughter, Sally Sue. |