WHEATLAND, CA (MPG) - It started with the sound of bagpipes. For the first time ever, people took their seats in an overflow seating area set up in the parking lot next to the entrance of Hard Rock Live in Wheatland. From here, they watched Officer Osmar Rodarte’s celebration of life ceremony outdoors, broadcast on a projected screen.

“There were thousands of people there,” said Gordon Tom, a local historian who attended the ceremony. “Nearly both floors, the lower floor and the upper balconies were full.”

The ceremony took place on April 8 at the Hard Rock Live in Wheatland. Heather Atherton, who works in public relations for Hard Rock, said the tribe had donated the venue to honor the slain officer and show support for the surrounding community. The event marked only the second of its kind at the venue, preceded only by the 2022 celebration of life for Cotton Rosser of the Flying U Rodeo.

“When the Hard Rock Live was built, it was also intended to be a gathering spot for the community,” said Atherton.

Rodarte, 27, was fatally wounded on March 26 during a multi-agency operation in Yuba County targeting transnational drug trafficking organizations. His passing marks the first line-of-duty death for the Marysville Police Department in over a century, a tragic milestone that has deeply impacted both the department and the Yuba-Sutter community.

Before the ceremony began, Rodarte’s body was escorted to the venue by a solemn procession that started in Sacramento County. Along the route, hundreds of community members stood in reverence, waving flags and holding signs in support, lining the streets in silent solidarity.

“Through our grief, we saw the streets lined with families, freeways frozen in time, overpasses filled with supporters, and an outpouring of love online,” said Antar Haqq, Rodarte’s long term friend. “Your support has not gone unnoticed, and we are forever grateful.”

The service began around 10 a.m. Rodarte’s casket, draped in an American flag, was carried down the aisle to the front of the stage. The silence inside the venue was palpable and reverent, heavy with emotion.

Yuba County Undersheriff Nick Morawcznski gave the welcoming address.

“To Monica and the boys, and all of Osmar’s family and friends, I have no words that express our condolences and sorrow for your loss, and I pray God’s grace over your family,” said Morawcznski.

Morawcznski acknowledged that while he had not known Rodarte personally, he had come to understand the impact of his service. He spoke of the five different law enforcement agencies that serve the Yuba-Sutter region, and the uncommon bond between them.

“What is equally uncommon is the community that we serve,” said Morawcznski. “This Yuba-Sutter community has unwavering support for its law enforcement. It has helped us through pandemics and wildfires, it has stood up for us in moments of political strife and movements, and today, it helps carry us through moments of grief and sorrow. It is this community that Osmar chose to protect, and it is this law enforcement agency family that Osmar chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with in confronting the evils of this world. Today we are honoring a hero.”

Adventist Health Chaplain Francisco Cross then delivered an invocation, offering words of comfort and spiritual reflection.

Marysville Police Chief Christian Sachs was the first to speak following the prayer. Visibly emotional, Sachs addressed Rodarte’s sons directly.

“To Antonio and Lorenzo, Marysville PD will always be a home for you,” said Sachs. He recalled Rodarte’s early days on the force, remembering how serious and stoic he had been during his interview.

“I was trying to get him to crack a smile and it wasn’t easy, he was all business,” said Sachs. “But once he joined the team, we saw a different side of him… Osmar lit up any room he walked into.”

He then shared memories of Rodarte dancing in the parking lot, filing reports while wearing a gas mask and never wanting to go anywhere without his cowboy hat.

“One time, dispatch called him on the radio and when he keyed up to answer, the ‘Pink Pony Club’ song was blasting in the background,” Sachs laughed. “He was the guy you wanted on your shift, not just because he was reliable, but because he brought joy and connection to the job.”

Following Sachs, Haqq then came on stage to deliver the eulogy. He began by clarifying the pronunciation of Rodarte’s first name, “Oh’s-mar”,” though admitted, with a chuckle, that he had always said “Os-mar.”

“For as long as I’d known him, Osmar always had two dreams he was determined to achieve: to serve in the greatest army in the world, the United States Army, and to become a police officer so he could continue serving his community,” said Haqq. “He achieved both these dreams.”

Haqq spoke about Rodarte’s deep devotion to family such as his parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and friends.

“Osmar was an amazing husband and father… a whirlwind of energy, love, and goofiness,” said Haqq. “They say that some lives are like comets, brilliant, beautiful and all too brief. Osmar was that kind of soul.”

It was then Yuba County Sheriff Lieutenant Chad Watson’s turn to recount Rodarte’s standout performance during Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team tryouts.

“I remember all of his peers talking about the heart he displayed during the hardest parts of the tryouts,” said Watson. “Shortly after, he was chosen unanimously by the rest of his peers.”

The final speaker was San Benito County Sheriff Sergeant Mari Landeros, Rodarte’s aunt. She shared that Rodarte had expressed his desire to become a police officer when he was just 10 years old.

“Osmar and I had many long conversations regarding the expectations of becoming a cop, and what to expect,” said Landeros. “He reminded me what it was like to be young and have goals and aspirations.”

Rodarte had hoped to serve in his hometown, and he did just that.

The benediction was given by Yuba County Sheriff Chaplain Kerry Brown. At approximately 11:30 a.m., Rodarte’s casket was brought back down the aisle, and a second procession led him to his final resting place, where a private family ceremony was held.