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Incident
Police Officer Tara O'Sullivan was shot and killed at the scene of a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of Redwood Avenue at 6:10 pm.
She was standing in the yard while assisting a woman to retrieve belongings from a home when a male subject inside opened fire with a rifle, striking Officer O'Sullivan. The subject continued to fire at other officers, preventing them from reaching Officer O'Sullivan or rendering aid to her. Approximately 30 minutes later, an armored vehicle arrived, and they were able to rescue her from the yard. She was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her wounds.
The subject remained barricaded inside the home for several more hours while negotiators communicated with him. He surrendered at 2:00 am the following morning. The suspect had a lengthy criminal history of violence and abuse. He pleaded guilty to her murder, and in 2025, a jury recommended the death penalty.
Officer O'Sullivan had served with the Sacramento Police Department for six months. She previously served as a Community Service Officer and an Explorer.
In February 2020, the Sacramento City Council renamed Woodlake Park's baseball field to Officer Tara O'Sullivan Memorial Field. The H Street Bridge was renamed to the Tara O'Sullivan Memorial Bridge in February 2022.
Survivors
She was survived by her parents.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer O'Sullivan served with the Sacramento Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer O'Sullivan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Sacramento Police Department has lost 17 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Tara is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Tara is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Tara is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2019, 1 officer at Sacramento Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1963, with 2.
In 2019, 6 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 63rd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 2019, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2019, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Tara was 26. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Sacramento Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 26.3 and 37.8; the middle age was 28. Tara had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 3 years.
Tara was 26. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Tara had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Tara was 26. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Tara had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Tara was 26. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Tara had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 10% of these deaths at Sacramento Police Department; February holds the most, 20%. Wednesdays: 30%.
June holds 7.6% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 11.8%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 58.8% of all 17 deaths at Sacramento Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 20% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 8.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
Her people
Sacramento Police Department has 17 officers remembered here, Tara among them.
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George C. Chapman Apr 28, 1858
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Joseph Scott Dec 7, 1878
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Charles H. Wetzel
Aug 29, 1893
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Frank Auener Lungershausen
Dec 27, 1935
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Frank Fragoso Mello
Jun 30, 1951
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Arnold Z. Gamble
Feb 15, 1963
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Eugene Edgar McKnight
Jul 23, 1963
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Bernard M. Bennett
May 13, 1970
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Andrew Lee Collins
Apr 19, 1972
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Doyle Allen Popovich
Aug 3, 1974
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Rodney Taylor Butts
Oct 15, 1975
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William Henry Warner
Jun 1, 1981
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Michael David Gartrell
Apr 25, 1991
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Emily Jewett Morgenroth
Oct 17, 1997
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William Chandler Bean, Jr.
Feb 9, 1999
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Matthew M Prichard Apr 20, 2008
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Tara Christina O'Sullivan
Jun 19, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Sacramento Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
