Local law enforcement react to deaths of two police officers near Syracuse
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Law enforcement across the state are also mourning the deaths of two officers killed Sunday in the line of duty — a Syracuse police officer and an Onondaga County sheriff’s deputy.
“Praying for Syracuse officers,” the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association posted on X, formerly known as Twitter on Sunday night.
This tragedy especially hits home for a Niagara County Sheriff’s deputy who was an officer in Syracuse who knew one of the officers who was killed.
“Certainly, we’re all mourning the loss and the tragedy that occurred yesterday, anytime you see law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, it’s shocking,” said Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti.
“When you see something like this happen, where two officers, an officer and a deputy, are shot and killed it certainly resonates with my people here.”
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According to the Officer Down Memorial page, 38 police officers have been killed this year in New York state, most of them in car crashes, followed by shooting deaths. The Niagara County Sheriff once again is criticizing bail reform.
“I’ll keep it real simple, you can start punishing criminals again in New York state is what you can do to make it stop,” Filicetti said.
The tragedy also resonates with community groups that help police and their families, like Op Overwatch based in Lockport. The organization provides a proactive, holistic approach to trauma.
“What we do is we try to serve and care for the whole officer, we do that through benevolence work, we do that through outreach, we do that through training, trauma training and there’s our faith-based portion of it,” said David Budz, director of Op Overwatch. Budz is also the pastor of The Center Church and is a former FBI agent.
The group has wellness teams that meet with police departments. Budz says early intervention during a crisis is crucial.
“Your first thing is to care for your officers to care for those who are on scene, those guys and what they saw. Infant death and death of a fellow officer are the hardest things when it comes to the effects of trauma,” Budz said.
Op Overwatch posted on Facebook: “We pray….We pray in sorrow, asking for peace. We pray in anger, asking for leadership to do something for the most violently oppressed profession in the USA.”
Sheriff Filicetti says he plans to travel to Syracuse for any funeral arrangements.
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