Boulder cop Eric Talley killed in store massacre left six-figure IT job to join force after friend’s tragic DUI death
BOULDER cop Eric Talley, who was killed in the Colorado store massacre, left a six-figure IT job to join police force.
Talley, 51, made the career change after a close friend's tragic DUI death, friends and family revealed.
Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jeremy Herko spoke with about what "propelled" his best friend's career change.
Herko – who met Talley when the duo were both in the police academy over ten years ago – said the fallen officer left a job in information technology where he earned over six figures.
Friends and family said the switch came when he was after his friend died in a DUI crash, reported.
"He lost pay. He lost time away from his family. He joined the police academy without a guaranteed job," he told the outlet.
Talley's sister, Kirstin Brooks, shared a heartbroken post on social media after her brother's death.
“I honestly know my brother, when he heard there was a shooting in a supermarket, I know his first thought was, ‘There are kids in there,’ ” Brooks told the outlet.
She added that her brother – who had – "loved kids."
"I know Eric would have wanted to save every single one of those lives. I know why he flew in there first, because he was thinking, there are families in that store," she told the outlet.
Denny Strong, 20, Neven Stoanisic, 23, Rikki Olds, 25, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Teri Leiker, 51, Officer Eric Talley, 51, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62, Jody Waters, 65 were the 10 victims.
Talley responded to reports of an active shooter around 2.30pm – and was fatally shot as he ran in to tackle the gunman.
Emergency responders stood shoulder-to-shoulder and saluted as the procession went through the horror-struck city.
Pictures showed Talley's car covered in flowers on Tuesday, in a memorial to the slain officer.
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Talley "was, by all accounts, one of the outstanding officers at the Boulder Police Department and his life was cut far too short."
He said his son loved his family "more than anything" and that he "was looking for a job to keep himself off the front lines."
Following the shooting, called for for gun purchases.
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He also hailed Talley as a hero, saying: "When he pinned on that badge yesterday morning, he didn't know what the day would bring."
"Those were folks who died left behind families and theres'a a big hole in their hearts."