An overflow crowd gathered at Bayside Church Adventure Campus north of Sacramento on Thursday to pay their respects to police Officer Tara O’Sullivan.
The 26-year-old was shot and killed last week while responding to a domestic violence call. O’Sullivan is the first Sacramento police officer killed in the line of duty in two decades.
The mood at the Roseville service was somber as the crowd honored the fallen rookie, who was still in training. But there were lighter moments too. Like when O’Sullivan’s police academy sergeant, Brent Kaneyuki, cited her physical record for holding the longest plank.
"Not only the academy record, but also the department plank record for both males and females, with a time of 26 minutes and 7 seconds," he recalled.
Friends talked about O’Sullivan’s love of her job and exuberance for life. She was certain she wanted to be a police officer since she was a child, and even participated in training programs while growing up in the Bay Area.
Still the grief was ever-present. Her godfather, Gary Roush, said he’s angry about everything O’Sullivan won’t get to do.
“Tara planned to go to Ireland. She had a boyfriend, Adam, who she loved, with whom she most likely would have enjoyed a long life," he said. "She had such ambition. She likely would have risen to the highest rungs in the ranks. That won’t happen.”
Roush spoke about the upcoming weddings of both her sister and brother and how O'Sullivan won't be able to take part in either.
But Roush said he’s trying to take the advice of O’Sullivan’s father, Denis, to focus on what she did achieve.
"She accomplished much in her short life," he said. "She loved many, and was loved in return. She traveled more than most. She accomplished more goals in her life than many twice her age."
Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn reassured her family that O’Sullivan made a difference in countless lives in just a short amount of time. And he addressed O'Sullivan directly.
“Angel Officer Tara Christina O’Sullivan, thank you for your selfless service to all of us," he said. "Rest in peace, we’ve got it from here."
Outside the service a rainbow circle shone around the sun. Mourners gathered along the procession route between the church and funeral home to pay their respects to O'Sullivan, waving blue flags and signs.
The man accused of shooting O’Sullivan, Adel Sambrano Ramos, has been charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an assault weapon.
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