SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Chaplain Mindi Russell knows about death and mourning.
She's worked with all sorts of people dealing with loss. Now, she's guiding officers touched by the death of Sacramento Police Officer Tara O'Sullivan through their grief.
"Another officer murdered, executed. We cannot soften those words and should not. Our community should hear how harsh that was because she was ambushed," Russell said.
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Chaplain Russell is sharing the harsh truth about what happened to O'Sullivan. She said it's a reality happening far too often.
"When we talk about 'They sign up for the risk to protect others. That's noble and that's why we call them heroes,' but they didn't sign up to get killed while doing this job," she said.
Just six months ago, Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona was ambushed, and nine months ago Sacramento County Deputy Mark Stasyuk was also tragically killed in the line of duty.
As a chaplain, Russell was there the night O'Sullivan died. She has been praying with officers and guiding them through the darkest hour.
"Those officers did everything they could... We just can't get stuck there. Grieve right. Good grief is healthy, bad grief gets you stuck," Russell said.
She said every minute that went by with help on the way, O'Sullivan was not alone.
"When God says, 'I will never leave you,' she was not alone. And maybe we didn't see what was happening in the supernatural, but I believe until God said, 'Come home to me,' I believe there were angels guarding around her," Russell said.
She said there's no moving on from O'Sullivan's death, there's only moving forward.
"We are crushed with sadness. Let's not get stuck with that. Lets not get stuck with anger, frustration, overwhelmed," Russell said. "Lets take this and reframe it with our purpose of why we do what we do. We can't do anything less."
Russell is part of a recently formed group called Stand With The Blue. They are forming a group to support law enforcement, engage with lawmakers and fight for change.
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