A woman arrested in the shooting death of a Eugene motorcycle police officer has been identified as 56-year-old Cheryl D. Kidd, of Springfield.

Springfield Police Chief Jerry Smith tells The Register-Guard that investigators questioned Kidd late Friday night before her transport to the Lane County Jail for investigation of murder. A motive for the shooting was not immediately clear; investigators will also question her friends and family, he said.

"We still have to see what's going on with her," Smith said.

The shooting occurred Friday afternoon when 12-year Eugene police veteran and father of two Chris Kilcullen tried to stop the driver of a Buick Skylark. The vehicle fled, and Kilcullen pursued it into nearby Springfield.

Kilcullen was fatally shot by a handgun near the busy intersection of Interstate 105 and 52nd Street. Police say the officer did not return fire. He fell against the rear tire of a tractor-trailer rig that had stopped at the intersection, Smith said.

Kidd was arrested following a 20-mile police chase that reached 80 mph and a standoff that ended at about 7:30 p.m. at the end of a Forest Service road near Lowell.

Kilcullen, 43, is the first Eugene police officer to die in the line of duty since 1934.
Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns held a brief, somber news conference late Friday night. Kerns spoke of Kilcullen's "honorable career" with the department and recalled the officer as a "very popular guy" who was "relentlessly positive and upbeat."

"Our department is grieving, along with his family," Kerns said.

Flanked by a group of police supervisors -- three of whom had affixed black bands to their badges in a display of mourning -- Kerns said he was pleased to hear that the woman accused of being the shooter had been taken into custody uninjured. He added that he was also angry that someone would kill one of his officers.

"This is a moment of pure sorrow," Eugene Police Employees' Association President Erik Humphrey said in a statement. "Our devoted prayers are with this fine officer's family. This void in law enforcement will remain forever."