A local ceremony honoring Monroe County Sheriff's deputies who have made the ultimate sacrifice kicked off Sheriff's Week in New York State.
Officials and family of those who lost their lives in the line of duty gathered at the Fallen Deputy Memorial in downtown Rochester Monday morning.
Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn Sheriff's week is a chance to not only to showcase the work of sheriff's offices statewide, but to also recognize the true heroes in our community.
"We just hope that from this point forward, we won't be adding any more names to that monument, but we appreciate what they did and we want to let their families know they will never be forgotten," he said. "We've seen locally so many of the situations the dangers that individuals put themselves in, respect of supporting the community and defending the community, and that definitely, if it doesn't get you a little choked up, I don't know what would."
Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said while the ceremony recognized county lawmakers, it was also a time to remember city police officer Daryl Peirson, who was shot and killed while on duty in 2014.
"While I know he certainly wasn't a member of our sheriff's department, we all know that law enforcement is one family. One brotherhood, one sisterhood, all standing shoulder to shoulder, and this community stands shoulder to shoulder with each and every one of you," she said.
The last Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy who died in the line of duty was Corporal Catherine Crawford, in May of 1995.
There are eleven names on the Fallen Deputy Memorial on the Civic Center Plaza
Here's Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn with remarks at the ceremony:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZEPSnUUwEg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZEPSnUUwEg