The name of a Rochester police officer who was shot and killed last night while pursuing a suspect has been released.
Daryl Pierson, 32, served with the Rochester Police Department for eight years and was an Army National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan. He leaves behind his wife and two young children. Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said last night that the city will not forget Pierson's sacrifice.
"Words simply cannot express the sense of sorrow and deep loss that we feel at this moment," Warren said. "A family has lost a loved one, the men and women of our police department have lost a family member and a friend. And we the people of Rochester have lost someone, who like every other RPD officer, put their life on the line day after day, for us."
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called for all flags on government state buildings to be flown at half-staff tomorrow in honor of Pierson, who is the first Rochester police officer killed in the line of duty since 1959.
In a written statement, Cuomo called Pierson's death "deeply saddening" and said, "law enforcement personnel put their lives on the line to protect our communities every day, and today is a heartbreaking reminder of what that service can cost."