Walnut Creek mourns former East Bay police officer shot and killed in Idaho
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - The City of Walnut Creek is mourning the death of a former police officer and high school sports coach, who died in the line of duty while working as a sheriff's deputy in Idaho.
Tobin Bolter, 27, started at the Pleasant Hill Police Department in 2018, then moved to Idaho and was working for the Ada County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff says Deputy Bolter was shot in Boise Saturday night during a traffic stop.
A citizen who saw the shooting called 911. Police say that a witness, performed CPR until Bolter was transported to a hospital. He died from his injuries yesterday morning. The sheriff's department says officers shot and killed the attacker following a manhunt.
Bolter was a 2015 graduate of Berean Christian High School in Walnut Creek, where he later worked as a cross country and track and field coach with his wife.
"As a track coach, he would come straight from his duty as a police officer in his uniform, full uniform, and do track practice, and I think that is a sign of his dedication," said Justin Wade, Deputy Bolter's former teacher and mentor. "It’s been a challenge today…Even when I took my students out to the field today and walked across the track I thought about him."
Deputy Bolter's yearbook graduation page lists ‘police officer’ as a dream job.
"When you think of Tobin, the first word that comes to mind is servant…someone who wants to serve." said Nicholas Harris, principal of Berean Christian High School. "So to be in public service, looking out for others, that made sense for him."
Outside the high school, flags were kept at half staff.
"He had just the biggest smile on his face," said Harris. "It’s still a shock to learn of the news of Tobin passing. We loved him. We loved his family."
Meantime, the Pleasant Hill Police Department posted a tribute to Deputy Bolter on their Facebook page, noting that during his time there, "he came to work and entered the streets, always with a smile." Walnut Creek Police, where he trained as a cadet, also honored his memory in an online post, "Rest in Peace Tobin! Thank you for serving our community as a Walnut Creek Police Cadet. The Walnut Creek Police Department and our community mourns your loss and honors you for your service."