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Colo. recruit inspired by heroism of fallen officer graduates from police academy

Sam Dunbar, 21, veered from a real estate career to pursue becoming a police officer after an officer was killed during a 2021 mass shooting

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Photo/YouTube via FOX 31 News

By Ashley Silver
Police1

WOODLAND PARK, Colo. — Sam Dunbar, the young man that decided to pursue a career in law enforcement after a 2021 mass shooting in Colorado, recently graduated from the police academy.

Ten people were killed, including police officer Eric Talley, during the King Soopers mass shooting when 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa entered the grocery store and opened fire. The incident motivated then-19-year-old Dunbar to veer from a real estate career to pursue becoming a police officer.

Now 21, Dunbar sat down with FOX 31 News to discuss what it means to graduate from the police academy and how finding purpose in law enforcement is still a surreal experience for him.

“I don’t think it’s set in yet,” Dunbar told FOX 31. “I mean, I’m in this uniform and I’m getting a badge. Maybe it’ll hit then.”

Dunbar will be a police officer with the Woodland Park Police Department.

“When this shooting happened and Officer Eric Talley was killed, for me at least, this made sense. All of this made sense,” Dunbar said.

Inspired by his story, officers with the Boulder Police Department surprised Dunbar with late Officer Talley’s challenge coin and Talley’s family was in attendance for Dunbar’s graduation as a show of support.

“I try not to look too far into the future, but as far as a long and rewarding career, I have no doubt, I’ll have a pretty good career,” Dunbar told the news platform. “I’m really excited to get started and I’m sure it’ll fly by, for sure.”

Dunbar is set to start later this month.

RELATED: Boulder police officer Eric Talley killed responding to mass shooting

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