LA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- On La Mesa’s main street, where Officer Lauren Craven once patrolled, the Pink Rose Café held an impromptu memorial gathering for community members and officers.

Hugs and confusion with tears behind sunglasses, members of the La Mesa Police Department showed up for each other, still reeling from the loss of their first officer in the line of duty.

“Lauren is light, she shined bright in our department, even though she wasn’t there that long. From the day I pinned the badge on her and the smile that was on her face even in the interviews, she's an amazing person, she's an amazing police officer, so dedicated and loving to this community. The compassion, the empathy that she had is what we are all about,” said Chief Ray Sweeney from the La Mesa Police Departm

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