In a statement posted by the City of Marysville Police Department, Marysville Police Chief Christian Sachs described Officer Osmar Rodarte as “more than a colleague; he was a friend, a father, an Army veteran and a true hero.” Photo courtesy of Marysville Police Department

OLIVEHURST, CA (MPG) - The Marysville Police Department has identified Officer Osmar Rodarte as the officer who was fatally shot on the morning of March 26 during a multi-agency drug raid in Olivehurst.

The officer was part of a sweeping operation targeting a transnational drug trafficking organization. Rodarte was struck during an exchange of gunfire at a residence on Kestrel Court around 7:50 a.m., officials said. The suspect involved in the shooting was also killed at the scene.

The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department identified the shooter as Rick David Oliver, 60, of Olivehurst.

According to officials, Oliver opened fire on the Yuba-Sutter Regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team as they entered his home. Officer Rodarte and another teammate returned fire, fatally striking Oliver. Rodarte later died from his injuries at Adventist Rideout Hospital.

Oliver’s residence was one of 20 locations targeted in a coordinated operation conducted across Yuba, Sutter, Tehama and Butte counties. The search warrants were the result of a multi-year investigation by the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET-5) in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), focused on dismantling a transnational drug trafficking organization.

“It’s important to note that in this multi-year operation, the suspects, the central suspects in this operation, were part of transnational drug-trafficking organizations that were moving methamphetamine and deadly fentanyl across the border from Mexico into our state, where it was harming our communities and children,” said Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry, who also chairs NET-5. “Tragically, this morning, at one of the sites where a search warrant was being served, a Marysville police officer lost his life in the line of duty.”

Said Yuba County Sheriff Wendell Anderson, “There was one other individual inside the residence where the search warrant was executed. That person was detained, brought to the sheriff’s office for questioning, and has since been released.”

Rodarte, a young U.S. Army veteran, had served with the Marysville Police Department for two years. His name was officially released by the department the night of March 26.

“We lost an officer today who was near and dear to our hearts,” said Marysville Police Chief Christian Sachs. “I appreciate the support from all the allied agencies within the region who have come to support us in this tragic time.”

Law enforcement officials from across the region joined Sachs in expressing their condolences and support, including Marysville Mayor Chris Branscum, who described an emotional scene at the hospital.

“I heard about this early this morning, and when I arrived at the hospital, I walked into a room of Marysville Police officers, with one of our sergeants on a knee saying a prayer for a lost officer,” said Branscum.

In a statement posted by the City of Marysville Police Department, Sachs described Rodarte as “more than a colleague; he was a friend, a father, an Army veteran and a true hero.”

The transfer of Rodarte’s body from Rideout Hospital to Lakeside Chapel on the afternoon of March 26 was accompanied by at least a dozen law enforcement vehicles and community members who lined the roads in solemn tribute.

The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department has identified the shooter as Rick David Oliver, 60, of Olivehurst. Courtesy photo

Another formal procession was held at 9:30 a.m. March 27 to escort Rodarte’s body from the mortuary to Placer County, where additional arrangements are being handled. Residents were invited to line the sidewalks along D Street, between Ninth and First Streets, to offer their support and pay their respects.

“Your presence will be a powerful testament to the impact Officer Rodarte had on all of us and the strength of the community he served so selflessly,” said Sachs in a statement released from the Marysville Police Department.

That solemn journey lasted approximately 11 minutes and was accompanied by various law enforcement officers and honor guards paying tribute along the route.

According to Curry, Rick David Oliver had been identified in the investigation as a low-level dealer helping distribute drugs in the area.

He was a registered sex offender with prior convictions for soliciting lewd acts in public, indecent exposure and felony unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Oliver also had a history of drug offenses and failing to appear in court. As a convicted felon, Oliver was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.

During the operation, officers disrupted two clandestine drug labs and seized firearms, ammunition, drugs and drug paraphernalia. As of March 28, authorities reported the following totals from the investigation:

Prior to March 26, a total of 335.7 pounds of methamphetamine, 8.8 pounds of heroin, 1,542 fentanyl pills, 0.45 pounds of cocaine and three firearms had been seized. Additionally, $153,154 in U.S. currency had been recovered.

On March 26, 6.7 pounds of methamphetamine, 14 fentanyl pills, 0.26 pounds of cocaine, 17 pounds of marijuana and six firearms were confiscated.

The total amounts seized included 342.4 pounds of methamphetamine, 8.8 pounds of heroin, 1,556 fentanyl pills, 0.71 pounds of cocaine, 17 pounds of marijuana and nine firearms. The status of the total U.S. currency is still to be determined.

“Drug seizures on March 26 were lower than anticipated,” said Curry in a recent statement released by Yuba County Sheriff’s Department. “Based on information from confidential sources, members of the Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) have complained about the shortage of drugs caused by recent changes at the United States border that increased security.”

Curry added, “We are thankful to President Donald J. Trump and his administration for taking steps to shut down the flow of poison from abroad.”

To date, the investigation has resulted in 45 arrests, including 20 on the day of the operation. Curry emphasized that the effort involved more than 125 law enforcement personnel and the support of over 20 agencies.

“Even prior to today, (this operation) had seized hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and over $150,000 in currency,” said Curry. “These were major players pushing poison through our neighborhoods. We couldn’t just sit and watch it happen.”

Additional updates, including memorial service information and public tributes for Officer Rodarte, are expected in the coming days.