[NC] 1 year ago today the world lost Jail Officer Tarica Pulliam

On August 6th, 2008, Detention Officer Tarica Pulliam of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department was murdered outside of her apartment. Tarica was headed to work, when she was ambushed and shot to death by her ex-boyfriend of nearly seven years. Tarica was a single mother with a now eight year old daughter. This week marks Tarica’s one year death anniversary and the family has decided to honor her by celebrating her life, rather than remembering the tragedy...


Previous posts:

• [NC] Jail Officer Tarica Pulliam was safer at work than home. Murder-suicide.
• Before Jail Officer Tarica Pulliam was slain she & her mother signed the LaVena Johnson petition

REMEMBER MY NAME
sistersofthefaith.com
Coren Burch
August 5, 2009 by
[Excerpts] ...On August 6th, 2008, Detention Officer Tarica Pulliam of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department was murdered outside of her apartment. Tarica was headed to work, when she was ambushed and shot to death by her ex-boyfriend of nearly seven years. Tarica was a single mother with a now eight year old daughter. This week marks Tarica’s one year death anniversary and the family has decided to honor her by celebrating her life, rather than remembering the tragedy. By doing so, they have organized along with the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services Office in Wilmington, NC, the “Remember My Name Celebration Book Drive”. The book drive started on July 18th and will end on August 18th and will benefit women and children that either live in Domestic Violence Shelters or participate in programs provided by the Domestic Violence offices, and the women that are incarcerated in the New Hanover County Detention Facility, where Tarica was employed. Books should contain content that is motivational, inspirational, or devotional to keep them encouraged after surviving domestic violence. School supplies for the upcoming school year are also being accepted. For more information about the book drive, please contact The Open Gate at 910.343.0703. Or, for more information about Tarica’s story, email taricalives@hotmail.com. [Full article here]


ARTICLES POSTED SINCE THE LAST POST ON THIS BLOG:

VISITATION, FUND FOR DAUGHTER SET FOR MURDERED JAILER
StarNewsOnline.com
By Veronica Gonzalez
Staff Writer
Published: Friday, August 8, 2008 at 2:10 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 8, 2008 at 4:50 p.m.
[Excerpts] ...The suspect in her death, her ex-boyfriend, Anthony Antwand Bowen, 30, shot himself in a wooded area of Onslow County nearly 36 hours later. Pulliam had taken out a domestic violence protection order on Bowen in April. And he had been facing charges of assault by strangulation, assault on a female, second-degree kidnapping and interfering with emergency communications as a result of that order... Pulliam's family is asking that in lieu of flowers, people donate to a fund for her 7-year-old daughter's education. The fund is under Pulliam's name at the State Employees' Credit Union... Additionally, the Texas Roadhouse, 230 Eastwood Road, is hosting a fundraiser to donate to Pulliam's family... [Full article here]


DEPUTIES, FRIENDS MOURN PULLIAM'S DEATH AS LOSS FOR COMMUNITY
starnewsonline.com
By David Reynolds
Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 10:10 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 10:38 p.m.
[Excerpts] A manhunt that began with the murder of a 27-year-old detention officer early Wednesday morning ended in just 36 hours when the shooter committed suicide. But several who knew Tarica Pulliam said Sunday that her death will have a lasting effect on the community. Outside a remembrance for her Sunday night, several friends described Pulliam as a young mother who loved her life and had big plans for the future. "She always wanted to make people smile - she was just a loving person all around," said Stephanie Price, who knew Pulliam from Hoggard High School. "It kills me to think of all the missed opportunity"... Kali Pearson, Pulliam's cousin, said friends and family around the country are mourning her death. Pearson, 34, who drove from New York City to attend services for Pulliam, said she was a kind-hearted person who will be missed... At the New Hanover County Jail on Sunday afternoon, a sheriff's office flag flew at half-staff, and deputies wore black ribbons across the center of their badges. Sunday evening, deputies in uniform stood outside the Davis Funeral Home Jordan Memorial Chapel where Pulliam's viewing was held... For two years, Pulliam worked as a jailer, and she was planning to become a deputy, Causey said. An injury stopped her from completing a training course, but she planned to try again in the fall, he said. She was an outstanding employee, [New Hanover County Sheriff Sid] Causey said, and was excited about her future with the sheriff's office. "She was very determined," he said. "She was small in stature, but she had a lion's heart. It's just a sad situation"... On Sunday afternoon, the funeral home parking lot at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Dawson Street was full before the viewing was scheduled to start. People parked in neighboring lots and in the adjacent neighborhood... Price, Pulliam's high school friend, said the feeling of missed opportunity just compounds the tragic loss of someone who brought joy to those who knew her. "Her family was robbed, and her community was robbed," Price said. "She was a great person, and she wanted to do so many things"... [Full article here]


Video:


LARGE CROWD TURNS OUT FOR FUNERAL OF SLAIN DEPUTY
Submitted by WWAY
11 August 2008 - 4:58pm
[Excerpts] It has been five days since New Hanover County detention officer Tarica Pulliam was gunned down outside her home. Today, her friends, family, and fellow law enforcement officers gathered to say goodbye. It was a full house at Union Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington. Family, friends and fellow deputies filed in silently in honor of Tarica Ann Pulliam... At Pulliam's funeral members of the sheriff's department wore black stripes over their badges to honor their fallen colleague. "She was very loyal, very hard working, and always volunteered for extra work. People like her are the heart and soul of this sheriff's office. They make it run," said] [New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey. Pulliam left behind parents, two siblings and a young daughter who lives here in Wilmington. Friends, family and colleagues say she will be missed. A scholarship fund has been put in place for Pulliam's daughter. Donations to the fund can be made at any State Employees Credit Union here in Wilmington. [Full article here]


ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR ABUSERS
Submitted by WWAY
11 August 2008 - 5:15pm.READ MORE:
[Excerpts] Tarica Pulliam's death is an unfortunate example of a domestic violence case that ended in death. The district attorney's office, and New Hanover County Sheriff's Department are now looking at how they can keep domestic violence victims, safe. Local law enforcement officers are trying to implement an electronic monitoring system. It would pinpoint the exact location of an abuser who violates a protective order... Joy Alford-Brand, Assistant District Attorney, 9th District, said, "It would be murder prevention. I really believe that if we had the program it would have prevented Miss Pulliam's death and the death of so many others"... The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office has applied for it twice before, but was turned down. [Full article here]

TARICA PULLIAM: A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
WECT
Aug 19, 2008 12:37 PM PDT
Last week Tarica Pulliam, a New Hanover County detention officer died. Authorities believe she was ambushed by her ex-boyfriend. Days later, family and friends came together to celebrate Pulliam's life. Outside Union Missionary Baptist Church, Pulliam's relatives, co-workers, and friends gathered with heavy hearts. But inside the packed church, the focus is on celebrating her 27 years of life, not mourning the day of her death. Some people in the massive crowd are meeting for the first time, brought together by a common desire to make sense of the murder of the young mom, a victim of domestic violence who was trying to begin a career as a deputy sheriff. "I thank you for being here and I thank you for your prayers..And I ask that you continue those prayers," said Pulliam's mother. Those who knew her say her vibrant personality will be missed, and those who didn't know her personally wanted offer their support to the family. But it's not easy saying goodbye to a daughter, a mother, a friend, and a county worker who tried to keep people safe. So it's likely the members of this support group will continue leaning on each other in weeks to come. [LINK]

Video:


LOCAL HEROES GOLF TOURNAMENT REMEMBERS TARICA PULLIAM
Submitted by WWAY
7 November 2008
[Excerpts] New Hanover County law enforcement officers remembered one of their own today. Tarica Pulliam was murdered this summer. The annual Local Heroes Golf Tournament was held in her honor. One of Pulliam’s co-workers, Scott Perez, said, “Our squad lost a true friend. A true hard worker, and a true friend”... Money raised from the tournament will go to the seven year old daughter Pulliam left behind. “It lifts my day to know she's loved and still being loved,” said Tarica’s mother, Gracie Pulliam. Organizers of the annual Local Heroes Golf Tournament said when news of Tarica Pulliam’s murder spread through the sheriff's department, there was no question she would be remembered on this day. “You always have Tarica in your memory, as well as other officers we've lost in the past. Always when you wake up in the morning and you go to work, that's in the back of your mind,” said Pat Cullifer, Local Heroes Tournament organizer. More than seventy golfers played in the tournament. Gracie Pulliam said the turnout reminds her just how much her daughter was admired. “It brings a little more joy because it makes me know what my child was really all about. She was all about caring, helping and it just brings a lot more joy to us,” she said... [Full article here]

TARICA PULLIAM REMEMBERED AS FAMILY IS AWARDED GRANT
Submitted by WWAY
14 April 2009 - 5:04pm
Members of the New Hanover County Sheriffs Department took time out Tuesday to remember one of their own. The family of fallen detention officer Tarica Pulliam was awarded with a one thousand dollar grant. Pulliam was shot and killed in August, while leaving her home to go to work. The grant comes from the Officer Down Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina. Members of Pulliam's unit, as well as close friends gathered to remember her. Tarica’s sister, Shequana Pulliam said, "It means more to us than you can imagine, to just know that my sister is not forgotten and that the community still supports us." The grant will be used for expenses for Pulliam's seven year old daughter. [LINK]

BOOK DRIVE KICKS OFF IN HONOR OF TARICA PULLIAM
Submitted by WWAY
20 July 2009 - 11:16am.
[Excerpts] A book collection campaign kicked off Saturday in honor of Tarica Pulliam; a New Hanover County detention officer killed by her ex-boyfriend a year ago. Pulliam's family partnered with the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services to collect inspirational books for women and children affected by domestic violence. Pulliam's family said a book drive is appropriate because she loved reading to her daughter. "I wanted to do something positive than reflect on the negative, and working with the domestic violence shelter and services here in Wilmington, a book drive which celebrates one of her favorite past times with her daughter," said Tarica's sister Shequana Pulliam... [Full article here]
[NORTH CAROLINA]