Today at Auburn Police headquarters officers, family and friends gathered to remember the tenth anniversary of the line of duty death of Auburn Police officer Ronald Tarentino, Jr. On Sunday, May 22, 2016 Officer Tarentino was was shot and killed while conducting an overnight traffic stop on Rochdale Street in Auburn. Today, Auburn Police Chief Scott Mills spoke with Spectrum News about the tragic day ten years ago, "That never leaves us. And it's always a reminder of the dangers of the job. And, you know, some of the things you can't control on the job. But, you know, most importantly for us, it's really about remembering Ron and remembering that, you know, the values that, you know, that he was about."

Chief Mills said Tarentino had a larger than life presence around the department, "He had a great sense of humor. You know, he was definitely a bit of a prankster around here. And he was just funny. He had a good sense of humor. And he was you know, people always say, 'Oh, he's a gentle giant.' He was a 300 pound person. But he was a gentle person."

Tarentino's legacy lives on through the Officer Tarentino, Jr. Charitable Fund. The non-profit honors his memory through charitable events promoting acts of kindness, generosity and service to the community. 

The Tarentino Strong 5K is one of the charity's biggest events. This year it's taking place on June 14th. More information can be found at this link.