RELATED: Sacramento police officer shot, killed while on domestic violence call
Tara O'Sullivan, 26, was originally from the Bay Area.
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She graduated from College Park High School in Pleasant Hill in 2011. The school is flying its flag at half staff on Thursday.
MORE: Make a donation to the Ofc. Tara O'Sullivan memorial fund
O'Sullivan went on to take some classes at Diablo Valley College before heading to Sacramento State. The college released this statement this morning:
It is with deep personal regret that I confirm that fallen Sacramento police officer Tara Christina O'Sullivan was a former student of Diablo Valley College. We are honored to have played a part in Officer O'Sullivan's journey. O'Sullivan began taking general education classes at DVC in 2011 in preparation to transfer to Sacramento State University. Ultimately she discovered and achieved her dream of graduating from the Police Academy. We are proud of her success and of her choice to serve, protect and give back to her community. We are heartbroken that her life was taken at such a young age. Our hearts are with Officer O'Sullivan's family, friends and fellow officers, and we wish them peace in this difficult time.
O'Sullivan was also part of the Explorer programs at the Martinez and Pleasant Hill Police Departments.
RELATED: Who was Officer Tara O'Sullivan?
She was working for the Sacramento Police Department when she was shot and killed on Wednesday. Police had responded to a call of a disturbance between a man and a woman.
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O'Sullivan was helping the woman move some belongings out of her home when she was shot. The woman was not hurt. The man surrendered after an eight-hour-long standoff with police.
If you would like to donate to the Officer Tara O'Sullivan Memorial Fund, visit this page.
Other members of the community are also expressing their sadness over the loss of the young officer.
The Martinez Police Department issued the following statement:
"It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of not only a fellow police officer, but a dedicated former police explorer serving Martinez and Pleasant Hill Police Departments. Tara O'Sullivan will always be remembered as a vibrant, energetic and passionate community servant who rose through the ranks as an explorer sergeant and served the community with purpose. She was committed to becoming a police officer and joined the Sacramento Police Department. She was taken form us too soon and she will be missed."
California Governor Gavin Newsom released the following statement:
"Officer O'Sullivan represented the best of what we hope to be as human beings in her selfless service to the community and readiness to help those in need," said Governor Newsom. "She knew the dangers of the job, yet chose to dedicate herself at such a young age to those values anyway. Today, Jennifer and I join the Sacramento community and all Californians in expressing our deep condolences, and stand in solidarity with Officer O'Sullivan's family, fellow officers and those she served so honorably." Officer O'Sullivan, 26, died Wednesday night after she was shot at the scene of a domestic disturbance in Sacramento. Officer O'Sullivan began her service at the Sacramento Police Department in January, 2018 as a community service officer, going on to enter the police academy as a recruit and graduate in December, 2018. In honor of Officer O'Sullivan, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff."
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