Brian Dale Abbott
Brian Dale Abbott, 70, of Camarillo, California unexpectedly and suddenly passed away from an unknown medical condition on October 26th 2018. Brian was born September 21st 1948 in Belvidere, Illinois, to Myron (Bud) and Ruby Abbott. He married Robin Glahn in 1973.
Brian grew up in a US Navy family and lived in many different countries all over the world before settling in Lompoc, California where he attended Cabrillo High School. He loved athletics and was a Letterman varsity football player and wrestler.
Brian went on to San Jose State University to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Administrative Justice. He pursued a career in law enforcement with the Santa Barbara Police Department in September 1971. In 1984 the City of Santa Barbara presented Brian with the H. Thomas Guerry Award for his exemplary actions. In 1973, while working as a uniformed patrol officer Brian was wounded in a shootout with an armed suspect. The audio recording of the shootout is utilized to this day as a fine example of an Officer under fire. In 1976 while assigned to the Investigative Division as part of the Officer’s Coordinating Council aided in establishing a more efficient and responsive juvenile justice system. In 1976 an unidentified serial rapist terrorized the city of Santa Barbara. Brian now a Detective with Major Crimes Investigations contacted a witness in a separate murder case in 1977. During that interview, Brian realized that the witness had the same physical features and demeanor as the suspect in the unsolved rape cases. Initially only acting on a strong intuitive feeling he began an extensive investigation and eventually arrested that rape suspect. His keen sense and perseverance went on to clear twelve unsolved rape cases in the City, one at the University, and one in the County jurisdiction. The Coordinator of the Rape Crisis Center reached out articulating the “gratefulness of the Center’s personnel for Brian’s individual sensitivity in working with rape and assault victims.” The Guerry award continues to be the most coveted and respected award an officer or deputy can receive in Santa Barbara County.
Brian went on to become a Sgt. Detective of Homicide Investigations. As a Detective, he spent most of his career in Homicide/Special Investigations, to this date being the longest period for a Detective to work in Homicide. The crime novelist, Sue Grafton, utilized Brian’s knowledge of homicide investigations citing Brian as a resource in two of her crime novels.
Brian as a lifetime athlete finished over 30 combined marathons and ultra-marathons, including a youth charity event for the Santa Barbara City-County-State-Federal Law Enforcement, “The Extra Mile,” an ultra-relay marathon, extending 36 miles. He averaged an impressive 8 minute 34 second mile. Equally impressive, Brian was the only participant to run and finish the entire 36 miles.
Brian retired from the Santa Barbara Police Department on March 9th 2002 to take up his next career as a sport fisherman and avid tennis player. He loved to be out on the water with friends fishing the California coastline. He participated with California Fish and Game through a Tagging Grant in conservation efforts of various Rockfish species in the Channel Islands waters. Many people he spent time with on the ocean will miss his sense of humor and infectious personality. His silhouette, pole bending over the ocean, sunset in the background, will be etched in our minds as we continue to move forward after our loss.
Brian will continue to be an inspiration and lovingly remembered by his children, Andrew and Kelli Abbott-Stoytchev, his mother Ruby Abbott, the mother of his children Robin Abbott, his sister Judy Carney, brother Bruce (Ann) Abbott and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at Harry’s Plaza in the Banquette room on Saturday, November 17th 2018 at 4pm. Friends and family and anyone whose lives were touched by Brian are encouraged to join and share memories. Brian will be laid to rest in the ocean he loved on November 19th 2018. For questions, please contact kelli.abbott@gmail.com or 831-454-6138.