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Indybay Feature

Support Fund for Sean Arlt's Son Established

by Santa Cruz News
A support fund has been established for the 4-year-old son of Sean Arlt, who was shot and killed by officers with the Santa Cruz Police Department on October 16. Donations to the support fund can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/sean-arlts-son-support-fund
sean_arlt_support_fund.jpg
Many of the friends and loved ones who have donated to the support fund have added personal messages about Sean. Some examples:

"I remember Sean as a very bright, inquisitive, happy sixth grader in my class at Natural Bridges. What a great loss for everyone!"

"I still can't believe what happened, so I choose to remember the wonderful times we had together."

"For Kellen. May you always remember the spirit of your loving dad."

"We are proud of our Moss Landing and Santa Cruz communities for coming out to support the Arlt family. May this financial support help Kellen thrive and grow to carry on the kindness and beauty embodied by his father."


The support fund page reads:


THE TRAGIC STORY

Sean Arlt, a 32-year-old father, was killed by the Santa Cruz City Police responding to a 911 call at 3:00 AM on October 16th, 2016.​ The responding officers were well aware that Sean was in the midst of a mental health crisis. Twenty seconds after the officers engaged with Sean he was shot in the head and chest. Sean had only a garden rake that he was allegedly holding over his head. No officers were harmed.

Sean was beloved by family, friends, and many local people. He is survived by his 4-year-old son Kellen, who Sean loved more than anyone in the world. Sean was loving, caring, kind, and greatly inspired by social justice issues.

Let’s support Sean’s son Kellen to ensure he thrives and becomes all that he dreams of being. ​ Those of us who were close to Sean feel certain he would have done so for us, or for a complete stranger if he could.

HOW YOUR DONATION WILL DIRECTLY HELP KELLEN

This fundraising goal is twofold. Immediately, some of the funds will be used for preschool/daycare, rent, and living expenses to support Kellen and his mom to stabilize through a difficult transition. The longer-term goal is to create a college fund for Kellen.

Donations will be deposited to a trust fund under his name with his god-parent, grandparents and mother as the people responsible for withdrawing funds to support Kellen.

ABOUT SEAN

Sean was born in Santa Cruz County and attended Santa Cruz City public schools. After high school, he spent a year in Seattle as an Americorp volunteer working with inner city children. He graduated with honors in Psychology and Philosophy from Sonoma State University. While at Sonoma State he was a first responder with the Red Cross to the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans. Additionally he was a contributing author to the 2006 issue of Project Censored. Sean later authored the philosophical book The Love Manifesto. In 2006 Sean began sponsoring a young Tibetan boy, making annual contributions so that the boy could attend school in Dharamsala, India.

Sean had a wide range of interests and talents including: social justice issues, writing, counseling, math tutoring, surfing, lacrosse refereeing, qi gong, music, Jungian theory, somatics, and painting.

Sean struggled with mental health issues as millions of people do. His death on October 16th dramatically highlights the failures to provide proper services, including crisis intervention, for individuals and families struggling with mental illness.

IN HIS SPIRIT

In Sean’s spirit of serving those who are vulnerable, may we all move forward with a commitment to raising awareness and to supporting the development of compassionate mental health care systems.

IN GRATITUDE

Thank you for taking the time to read about our campaign and to support Sean’s 4-year-old son Kellen. Your questions and comments are welcomed.


Donations to the support fund can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/sean-arlts-son-support-fund
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