Father of slain Sacramento police officer Tara O’Sullivan defends department

SACRAMENTO — The father of a police officer and East Bay native slain while responding to a domestic call last week told a gathering at Sacramento police headquarters that any rumblings police could’ve handled the situation differently is only adding more pain to his family.

Denis O’Sullivan’s comments at a press conference Monday were the first by his family since his daughter Tara O’Sullivan died in an ambush shooting on June 19. Tara O’Sullivan, a rookie officer in Sacramento who had gone with her training officer to help a woman clear her belongings from her boyfriend’s apartment, grew up in Martinez and attended College Park High in Pleasant Hill.

Police were unable to reach O’Sullivan for nearly 45 minutes after she was hit by the gunfire, because the shooter kept police at bay by continuing to fire. Sacramento resident Adel Ramos has been charged with O’Sullivan’s murder.

Any insinuations that officers could’ve done more or that O’Sullivan should not have been at the scene are “negative, misleading and hurtful,” Denis O’Sullivan said.

“She loved Sacramento, and she loved the Sacramento Police Department,” he said. “We are so grateful for (the department) welcoming her with open arms and showing her nothing but love, support and top-notch training as a police officer. We know this police department provided the best training for Tara — from the academy staff, her co-workers, her field training officers, her teammates and the entire organization. For that we are forever grateful.”

Tara O’Sullivan’s mother, Kelley, her brother, Justin, and sister, Krista, also attended the news conference. Police provided Denis O’Sullivan’s full statement on the department’s social media.

“We also know beyond certainty, what happened on June 19 falls squarely on one individual,” Denis O’Sullivan said. “The notion that anyone in the Sacramento Police Department is responsible for the senseless murder of Tara is extremely offensive and hurtful.”

Tara O’Sullivan had been an officer for eight months after completing the police academy. Police have said she still was in training.

Before going to Sacramento, she started her policing career as a teen in police explorer programs in the Pleasant Hill and Martinez police departments.

“The loss of our daughter falls on one person’s shoulders and in no way will we ever place blame on any of the officers who displayed such professionalism and courage during this tragedy,” Denis O’Sullivan said.

Tara O’Sullivan’s memorial service will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Bayside Church Adventure Campus in Roseville.

A second overflow viewing area for O’Sullivan’s memorial service will be available to the public at Destiny Christian Church in Rocklin.