April 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.4

AROUND THE

AROUND THE COUNTRYOLIVEHURST, CA.Marysville Officer Osmar Rodarte was shot and killedwhile serving a warrant in a drug trafficking investigation.44 The BLUES - APRIL ‘25OFFICER OSMAR RODARTEOLIVEHURST, CA. — A NorthernCalifornia police officerwas shot and killed whileserving a search warrant in atransnational drug traffickinginvestigation Wednesday morning,authorities said.At around 7:50 a.m., law enforcementofficers from severalarea agencies were on KestrelCourt in the Yuba County townof Olivehurst executing a searchwarrant. That warrant was oneof 20 that were served acrossYuba, Sutter, Tehama and Buttecounties on Wednesday as partof a years-long investigationinto a transnational drug traffickingoperation, Yuba CountyDistrict Attorney Clint Currysaid in a press conference.Yuba County Sheriff WendellAnderson said gunfire wasexchanged upon entering thehome during the operation onKestral Court.One of the members of theSWAT team was wounded andlater died at Adventist Healthand Rideout in Marysville. Hehas since been identified asOfficer Osmar Rodarte, 27.Marysville Police Chief ChristianSachs said Rodarte was aU.S. Army veteran and a twoyearveteran of the MarysvillePolice Department.The sheriff's office said thesuspect was shot in the exchangeof gunfire and died atthe scene.One other person was detainedat the scene and takeninto questioning, but that personhas been released, Andersonsaid.The identification of the suspecthas not been released."Our hearts and our prayersare with this young officer'sfamily and our local law enforcementfamily," CaliforniaAssembly member James Gallaghersaid in a post on X.The Yuba-Sutter Officer-InvolvedShooting team will beconducting the investigationon Kestrel Court. Curry said hewould release more informationregarding the transnationaldrug trafficking investigationlater in the week."Our department is hurting,and our community is mourningthe loss of a dedicatedofficer who served with honor,integrity, and unwaveringcommitment to protecting thepeople of Marysville," Marysvillepolice said in a statement."Officer Rodarte was more thana colleague. He was a friend, afather, an army veteran and atrue hero."The Sacramento Police Departmentshared on social mediathat Rodarte was a graduateof its police academy.This marks the first Marysvillepolice officer to die in the lineof duty in more than 100 years.

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