Burns Bridge to Shine Blue in Honor of Fallen Officer

The Burns Bridge will be light up blue Monday night, honoring fallen Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino.

Tarentino was shot by Jorge Zambrano, of Worcester, during a traffic stop in Auburn around 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning, according to police. He was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

• Full story: Suspect in Auburn Cop Killing Dead Following Shootout; Trooper Struck
• Memorial Fund Established for Fallen Officer

Police said Tarentino joined the Auburn Police Department three years ago after transferring from Leicester. He was a Tewksbury native and a graduate of Tewksbury Memorial High School's Class of 1991. He is survived by his wife and three children.

The Mass. Dept. of Transportation honors Tarentino's sacrifice Monday night by lighting the Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge in blue. The bridge spans Lake Quinsigamond between Worcester and Shrewsbury on Route 9.

It is an especially fitting tribute, because the Burns bridge itself is named for another officer, former Shrewsbury Police Chief Kenneth Burns.

>> Photo via MassDOT