An on-line fundraiser has collected more than $24,000 in donations for the family of slain Rochester Police officer Daryl Pierson as of noon on Friday.
Officer Pierson, killed in the line of duty Wednesday night, leaves behind a wife and two young children, a 4-year old son who just started kindergarten this week, and a 3-month old daughter.
A childhood friend of Pierson's sister-in-law started the fundraiser on YouCaring.com to help the family with funeral and memorial costs.
Theresa Garritano says the money will also help many members of Pierson's and his wife's families, who live outside of the Rochester area, to travel here when the fallen officer's widow needs them the most. “Last year I accepted a job offer in Austin, Texas and soon after Aubrey (Daryl Pierson’s sister-in-law) moved down here for nursing school,” said Garritano. “We have been closer than ever in the last year living down here in Texas, supporting each other being so far from our little hometown. When Officer Pierson was killed, I was one of the first people Aubrey contacted, and I was in shock. I knew she would have to fly home immediately, and that would be pricey.”
Garritano says the fallen officer's death has touched many people including her mother, Vicki Garritano, who runs a day care in her East Rochester home, where she took care of the Pierson's 4-year old son Christian for about a year. “She used to see Daryl and Amy everyday picking up Christian,” said Garritano. “When Aubrey gave me the news, I called my mom right away to tell her what happened, and she was so upset she couldn't even make words, she just kept mentioning Christian, and Christian's new baby sister.”
“It really is such a tragedy, but the least I could do was set up a way for others to help the family. With so much going on, money should be the least of their worries.”
