SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When Tara O' Sullivan decided to become a police officer, she had no problem promoting what she loved. She appeared in a Sacramento State University Law Enforcement Candidate Scholar Program promotional video for which she was in the first class to graduate in the fall of 2017.
"We lost a hero. We lost a leader," said Sacramento State University President Robert Nelsen. "We lost somebody who we love."
Officer Tara O'Sullivan, 26, died at UC Davis Medical Center hours after a gunman opened fire on her and other officers. The man who allegedly shot and killed O'Sullivan was taken into custody shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday, police officials confirmed.
Around 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, several officers were on a domestic disturbance call along the 200 block of Redwood Avenue in north Sacramento. O'Sullivan was helping a woman collect her belongings and leave a home when she was shot, Sacramento Police Sgt. Vance Chandler said during a press release.
The woman O'Sullivan was helping was not hurt. The relationship between her and the gunman wasn't immediately known.
Those who knew the young officer who held a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development tried to hold back tears at a very emotional news conference on the Sacramento State University campus.
"This morning when I was trying to explain to my daughters why I was so upset about my student the only thing I could think of to explain to them was that she was a hero," said Melissa Repa, the Sacramento State University Career Center Director. "They understand heroes and that's exactly what she was she was a role model to so many people."
"I asked her, why are you considering joining the police force when you're studying child development. That doesn't make any sense," added Nelsen. "And, she said I'm learning all of the skills I need to be an officer."
Shelby Moffatt developed the school's two-year Law Enforcement Candidate Scholar's Program.
"She was one of the bright lights in the program because she was a go-getter, slight build," said Moffatt. "She wasn't what you would see the stereotypical, ya know, big, tall, strong person, but she had tenacity."
"I just always looked up to her for guidance. She's definitely a role model and will always be a hero in my heart," said Sacramento State University Community Service Officer Casey Claudius.
"She really started the program and how it will be and how it will continue to be run," said Sacramento State University Community Service Officer Ricky Williams. "She set the example. And, that's what she did with everything."
"We appreciate everything she did. And, she would want me to do what I'm going to do. Stingers up!" said Nelsen, with tears in his eyes.
President Nelsen says money will be raised to create a scholarship in Tara O' Sullivan's name. A chair will also be named after her at the school's new planetarium.
On Thursday Sacramento State shared this video compilation of the late Officer Tara O'Sullivan. Photos were taken while O'Sullivan was in the university's Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars' (LECS) program.