SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The friends of fallen Officer Tara O'Sullivan took center stage at a vigil honoring their departed friend as they recalled the small details that helped define their memory of O'Sullivan.
"We were basically best friends," said Sacramento Sheriff's Deputy Tim Blocker. "We did everything together. We worked out together, ate together, [and] went through the LECS [Law Enforcement Candidate Scholar] program together. I'd walk her home from school. I really miss her."
Whether it was the physical strength they remembered after seeing her handling training exercises with a broken wrist or the strength of character she showed by supporting others when they were down, there was one constant with their memories. Her friends still missed her.
“She was the person I needed whenever I felt depressed or down," said Officer Daisy Castro. "She was the person I would go to and she would always encourage me…”
O'Sullivan's death left a Sacramento community reeling after she was gunned down responding to a domestic disturbance call. Her alleged killer is expected to be in court on Monday.
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"We're still in shock," said Sacramento State President Robert Nelson. "We have to be honest about that. We've lost somebody who we really loved [and] so many of us we knew because she was so vibrant and she was so out there."
O'Sullivan's passion for law enforcement preceded her time with Sacramento Police Department. She had passion for the field spanning from her time with the university's LECS program to the moment she decorated her graduation cap with plans to attend to the police academy.
"I want to assure you [O'Sullivan's family] tonight [that] your daughter, Tara - your sister, Tara. Police officer, public servant, and Hornet - will never be forgotten by the people of Sacramento ever," said Mayor Darrell Steinberg.
"Even though we're living through a tragedy right now, we know that she was a tremendous success," added Nelson, who also referred to her as leader among others.
She leaves behind friends and family that continue to miss her.
“I miss her a lot. She’s my best friend. She’s my battle buddy," said Deputy Blocker.
"We had a lot of plans to do together out on the streets; everything from going to college together to just kicking it at 7/11 drinking Slurpees," he added. "I’m sad that it can’t happen now. I really miss her.”