嘿嘿视频

Police, in Their Grief, Rally for Special Olympics

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嘿嘿视频 Police Chief Joe Farrow and Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel hand off the torch to runners.
At the Capitol June 21: After accepting the Flame of Hope from Sacramento County runners, 嘿嘿视频 Police Chief Joe Farrow, left, and Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel transfer the torch to runners who will carry it to Yolo County. (Courtesy California Highway Patrol)

A rough week for law enforcement concluded with police from 嘿嘿视频 and elsewhere rallying in a big way for Special Olympics, by raising nearly $173,000 in the Torch Run that led to the Northern California Summer Games held at 嘿嘿视频.

PROGRAM HONORS FALLEN OFFICERS

 

Friday (June 21), officers carried the torch to its last stop: The Pavilion at the Activities and Recreation Center where upwards of 700 Olympians and hundreds of their supporters had gathered for the Opening Ceremony. The program included a tribute to two slain police officers, Natalie Corona of the Davis Police Department, shot Jan. 10 on a downtown street; and Tara O鈥橲ullivan of the Sacramento Police Department, gunned down during a domestic disturbance call last Wednesday (June 19).

Chancellor Gary S. May issued a statement the next day:

鈥淭he 嘿嘿视频 community is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Sacramento police officer Tara O鈥橲ullivan. We know all too well the heartbreaking loss of a young police officer killed in the line of duty. 

鈥淎t times like this, we are reminded of those in our communities who are dedicated to protect us at any cost. We extend our condolences to officer O鈥橲ullivan鈥檚 family, friends and fellow officers of the Sacramento Police Department. We grieve with you.鈥

Ricky Lee and Justin Williams
Lee and Williams during their swearing-in ceremony in May.

嘿嘿视频 Police Chief Joe Farrow said two of his department鈥檚 rookie officers, Rickardo 鈥淩icky鈥 Lee and Justin Williams, attended the Sacramento Police Academy with O鈥橲ullivan. A third rookie, David Uribe, graduated from the academy the night after O鈥橲ullivan鈥檚 killing.

鈥淭his hits home on so many different levels,鈥 Farrow said. He described all three rookies as strong young men, 鈥渂ut obviously you can tell they were impacted.鈥

鈥淲hen officer O鈥橲ullivan was killed, it was instant realization of the hazards and the risks associated with police work in America,鈥 the chief said. 鈥淒anger lurks at any moment, you can鈥檛 predict it. They got a flash of that.鈥

Lee and Williams joined the chief at the Sacramento Police Academy for Uribe鈥檚 graduation June 20. All three rookies went through the campus Police Department鈥檚 Cadet Academy before graduating from 嘿嘿视频 with scholarships to the regular academy, and job offers back on campus.

Chief Farrow said his rookies are taking advantage of peer support programs and other resources during this trying time, and have been given time to attend O鈥橲ullivan鈥檚 services.

Campus police carry Flame of Hope

Police officers run with Special Olympics torch.
Officers from the 嘿嘿视频 and Davis police departments completed the final leg of the Torch Run, bringing the Flame of Hope through campus to the The Pavilion at the ARC. (嘿嘿视频 Police Department)

Despite heavy hearts, Farrow and more than a dozen others from the campus Police Department did their part in the Torch Run 鈥 carrying the Flame of Hope from the Davis Police Department to campus. They were running for Special Olympics, of course, but also for their fallen comrades.

嘿嘿视频 Police Officers who carried the torch.
嘿嘿视频 police staff and students who represented their department in the Torch Run. (嘿嘿视频 Police Department)

鈥淲hen things like this happen, our communities are wounded,鈥 the chief said. 鈥淭he Torch Run gave people the opportunity to come out and show their support for law enforcement.

鈥淭he applause along the way, the cheers, the shouts of 鈥榖e careful,鈥 it all means a lot to our officers,鈥 Farrow said.

Officer Corona had participated in the Torch Run several times when she worked as a community service officer for the Davis Police Department and later as an officer. Friday, her parents, Lupe and Merced, carried the torch into The Pavilion, which was the location of .

The Coronas used the torch to light the cauldron inside The Pavilion, officially opening the Summer Games. The Special Olympics then presented the Coronas with the Law Enforcement Torch Run Memorial Medal.

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Dateline Staff, 530-752-6556, dateline@ucdavis.edu

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