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Former RPD Chiefs Duffy & Sheppard React To Officer's Death

Jim Sheppard and Bob Duffy
Jim Sheppard and Bob Duffy

Two former Rochester police chiefs are weighing in on the death of an RPD officer. Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy and Jim Sheppard were on WXXI’s Connections with Evan Dawson talk show on Thursday.

Sheppard  was chief for three years before retiring at the end of last yearDuffy is both a former Rochester Mayor and Police Chief.

Sheppard remembers Daryl Pierson as someone who was a very motivated police officer.

"A very, very proactive officer, he worked in our tactical unit which is a proactive unit, he was one of those unsung type heroes that on a regular basis, I would see his name in relation to making significant arrests."

Duffy says this kind of tragedy really impacts everyone in the police force, especially those who worked most closely with the slain officer.

"It has a terrible impact, it really reinforces the dangers these men and women face not only in Rochester, but across the county, our state, really across the country that people don't realize."

Both Duffy and Sheppard said they hope that people in the Rochester community reach out to officers and let them know how much they are appreciated, not only during this time, but on a regular basis in the future.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.