Colorado cop killed in King Soopers shooting aided in daring duck rescue back in 2013
Jessica Schladebeck
A Colorado police officer first on the scene when a gunman started spraying bullets inside a King Soopers was a hero to all — no matter their size, shape or species.
Eric Talley, a 51-year-old father-of-seven, was among the 10 people shot and killed at the Boulder grocery store Monday afternoon. He was fatally struck as he raced into the building amid the violent chaos, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said, adding that his actions were “heroic.”
“Without that quick response, we don’t know if there would have been more loss of life,” Boulder Police Department Commander Kerry Yamaguchi told reporters during a press conference.
Talley’s dash into danger on Monday was not the first time he has been praised as a hero. He was called to change from a career in information technology to law enforcement back in 2010, shortly after a friend was killed in a in a DUI crash, the Washington Post reported. That same year, he enrolled at the Community College of Aurora’s Police Training Academy and has been helping people — and animals — ever since.
This photo tweeted by the Boulder Police Department late Monday, March 22, 2021, shows Officer Eric Talley.
This photo tweeted by the Boulder Police Department late Monday, March 22, 2021, shows Officer Eric Talley.
Talley made headlines in 2013 as one of three officers who helped rescue 11 ducklings and their mother from a drainage ditch in Boulder, the Daily Camera reported at the time. The tiny ducklings had been swept down a creek near an underpass and then became trapped in a barred-in ditch about 2 feet underground.
Officers lifted the top and attempted to scoop the ducks out with a net — but when that didn’t work, Talley volunteered to jump down into the muck and corral the baby birds as Boulder Police Sgt. Jack Walker and Officer A.J. Kunz tried to catch them.
“He was drenched after this,” Walker said of Talley. “They would go into these little pipes and he would have to try and fish them out.”
The daring duckling rescue drew a crowd of dozens of onlookers, each of them eagerly awaiting to see whether the officers would succeed in their mission.
Eventually, the responding trio were able to gather seven ducklings from the ditch, drawing out the mother duck, who was, in turn, followed by the rest of her babies.
The rescue effort overall took just more than an hour.
A single suspect was taken into custody on Monday amid the violence inside King Soopers. The alleged shooter has not yet been identified and a motive in the attack remained unclear.
Firefighters salute as a procession carrying the body of a police officer leaves King Sooper's grocery store where a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado.
A procession of emergency vehicles leaves a King Soopers grocery store where authorities say multiple people were killed in a shooting, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Firefighters salute an ambulance as it leaves a King Soopers grocery store where authorities say multiple people have been killed in a shooting, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Boulder Police Department Commander Kerry Yamaguchi addresses the media after a gunman opened fire at King Soopers grocery store on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado. Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in the attack.
Smashed windows are left at the scene after a gunman opened fire at King Soopers grocery store on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado. Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in the attack.
SWAT teams descend from the roof on a fire ladder after a gunman opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado. Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in the attack.
A police officer checks cars in the area after a gunman opened fire at King Sooper grocery store on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado. Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in the attack.
Law enforcement officers stand by during a news conference outside of King Soopers grocery store where a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado.
Police continue their investigation at a King Soopers grocery store where authorities say multiple people were killed in a shooting on Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police officers secure the perimeter of the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado on March 22, 2021 after reports of an active shooter.
A SWAT team member runs toward a King Soopers grocery store where a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado.
Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where authorities say multiple people were killed in a shooting, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police stand outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Shoppers are evacuated from a King Soopers grocery store after a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado. Dozens of police responded to the afternoon shooting in which at least one witness described three people who appeared to be wounded, according to published reports.
Police respond to the scene of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado.
Healthcare workers walk out of a King Soopers Grocery store after a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado. Dozens of police responded to the afternoon shooting in which at least one witness described three people who appeared to be wounded, according to published reports.
Two police officers embrace after a gunman opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado.
Healthcare workers walk out of a King Sooper's Grocery store after a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado.
Police work on the scene outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 23, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
People are led out of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting in the store, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Shattered windows are shown at a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado.
Healthcare workers and shoppers are tended to after being evacuated from a King Soopers grocery store after a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado.
Police cars are parked outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police cars are parked outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police stand outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.
As of Tuesday morning, only 51-year-old Talley had been named.
“He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short,” Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said.
Dozens of police and emergency vehicles, their lights flashing, escorted an ambulance carrying the officer from the shooting scene just after nightfall. Some residents stood along the route, their arms raised in salute.
Identities of the other nine victims were not disclosed as police were still notifying their family members.
