ROSEVILLE, Calif. — The memorial service for fallen Sacramento police officer Tara O'Sullivan began just after 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Bayside Adventure Church in Roseville.
Various speakers from faith groups, law enforcement and O'Sullivan's family spoke at the service. O'Sullivan was remembered for her love of Sacramento and the police department.
"Today is about Tara," Sacramento Police Captain Dennis Joy said. "We honor her. We remember her. We celebrate her. And most importantly, we recognize the ultimate sacrifice she paid and the sacrifice her family has paid."
While O'Sullivan's immediate family didn't speak directly, other's painted a picture of a young woman driven to excel and join law enforcement.
"Tara's dad wants everyone to know that Tara loved being a Sacramento police officer," Pastor Anthony Sadler explained. "And that as far as the O'Sullivan family is concerned, they will forever be a part of the Sacramento Police Department, and that department will forever be a part of the O'Sullivan family."
While the event was somber, glimpses into Tara's personal life brought much needed levity. Sadler shared stories from O'Sullivan's mother and sister.
"It was Tara's mama that said Tara was also bossy," Sadler said. "And apparently the fact that Tara was bossy was not exactly a secret kept only between mother and daughter."
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He also told a story about O'Sullivan's sister, Krista, shopping for a wedding dress.
"Tara boldly informed her that she didn't care if everyone liked the dress, that if Krista didn't like it, Tara would make sure that dress never made it to the wedding," Sadler said. "Krista wanted people to know that Tara was the type of person who would always have your back and that what you see is what you get. Tara was real. Tara was authentic. That's just the type of person Tara is."
Sergeant Fred Ferrer was O'Sullivan's mentor at the Martinez Police Department. He spent a lot of time with her while she was in high school going through the department's explorer program. The program helps youth explore a future career in law enforcement.
"She became respectfully assertive like everybody said," remembered Ferrer. "[She asked] tons of questions, challenged you, but she did it in a manner that wasn't cocky. She did it in a manner of being inquisitive and wanting to go…deeper and deeper."
O'Sullivan's godfather, Gary Roush, explained the way she lived her life.
"I suppose today that it's become obvious that Tara was an extraordinary person," Roush said. "She was one of those rare people who devoured life, doing so while somehow maintaining both strength and kindness in equal measure. Both an aggressive vigor and a gentle touch. She was marble wrapped in velvet."
Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn also weighed in on O'Sullivan's contributions.
"Please know that Tara made a real difference in countless lives in just a short amount of time," Hahn said. "She embodied what we strive to be as police officers. She was a force for good in the world. A soul who put more love into the world with every hour of her life."