Police release name of officer who killed man who beat his son to death

The police officer who fatally shot a Turlock man who was savagely beating his 2-year-old son to death was identified today as Jerry Ramar, 37.

Ramar, a six-year law enforcement veteran who has been on the Modesto force the past four years, was riding in the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department helicopter that responded to reports of the beating Saturday night. After the chopper landed in a pasture, Ramar got out and ordered the man to stop the beating, authorities said. When the man did not stop, Ramar shot him dead.

"The actions of this Modesto police officer and the deputy (pilot) were very courageous," police spokesman Sgt. Craig Gundlach said.

The sheriff's department has not released the name of the pilot.

Asked if Ramar was in line for an award, Gundlach replied, "There is a process that will have to be gone through," Gundlach said.