SCHUMER, SLAUGHTER LEAD CEREMONY TO OFFICIALLY DEDICATE THE EAST ROCHESTER POST OFFICE IN HONOR OF POLICE OFFICER DARYL PIERSON, A FALLEN HOMETOWN HERO WHO TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY; SCHUMER, SLAUGHTER WERE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF PIERSON’S FAMILY, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT & USPS OFFICIALS
In September 2014, Rochester Police Officer Daryl Pierson Tragically Lost His Life In The Line Of Duty – Pierson Was A Decorated Officer & U.S. Army Veteran And Embodied The True Spirit of Selflessness & Bravery
Schumer & Slaughter Fought to Name Post Office In Officer Pierson’s Honor & Successfully Passed Legislation Last Year To Make Dedication A Reality, and Will Unveil the Exterior Dedication Plaque; A Fitting Tribute to His Bravery and Dedication
Schumer, Slaughter: Dedication Allows for His Hometown Community to Forever Honor & Remember Officer Pierson
Standing at the East Rochester Post Office, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Representative Louise M. Slaughter today led a ceremony to officially dedicate the East Rochester Post Office in honor of fallen Rochester City Police Officer, Daryl Pierson. They were joined by Officer Pierson’s family, local law enforcement and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) officials. They spoke about the East Rochester native, who tragically lost his life when he was shot and killed in the line of duty in September 2014. They also unveiled the exterior dedication plaque, which will now bear his name and serve as a lasting tribute to his service and bravery.
“Officer Daryl Pierson was a true American and hometown hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect his beloved community. He was the very model of selfless service: he dedicated his life to safeguarding his community, as a Rochester Police Officer and in the United States Army and the National Guard. Officer Pierson is a hero to his friends, family and the entire community, and I was proud to fight to pass the legislation needed to make this dedication a reality,” said Senator Schumer. “Renaming his hometown post office in federal law and having Officer Daryl Pierson’s name proudly displayed out front for the entire community to see each day will serve as a fitting and lasting tribute to a man who embodied the true spirit of selflessness, service and bravery.”
“Officer Daryl Pierson was a true hero who devoted his life to defending our country and protecting our community. After he returned home from bravely serving our nation in Afghanistan, he chose to serve once again by joining the Rochester Police Department’s Tactical Unit and made the community safer and stronger for all of us. It is fitting that we have the honor of dedicating this historic American building in his honor, in recognition of his heroism, sacrifice, and the example he set. Dedicating this post office in Officer Pierson’s hometown will be an enduring reminder of the valor of our region’s fallen son,” said Congresswoman Slaughter.
Schumer and Slaughter were joined by members of the Pierson Family, Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli, East Rochester Postmaster Cheryl Fleck, East Rochester Mayor Fred Ricci, East Rochester Deputy Mayor Mark Florack, East Rochester Trustees Ted Connors, John Alfiere and Amy Monachino, as well as members of the Rochester Police Department, East Rochester Police Department, and local law enforcement community.
East Rochester Postmaster Cheryl Fleck said, “On behalf of the United States Postal Service, we are privileged to have the name of Daryl Pierson associated with the East Rochester Post Office.”
Located on West Commercial Street in East Rochester, the historic post office was built in 1936 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Schumer and Slaughter said the historic post office will now bear Pierson’s name. Schumer and Slaughter introduced and successfully passed legislation to rename the East Rochester Post Office – Officer Pierson’s hometown post office – the “Officer Daryl R. Pierson Memorial Post Office Building.” The legislation was signed by the President in November 2015.
Officer Pierson was killed in the line of duty on September 3, 2014, while pursuing a suspect on foot following a traffic stop. He was the first Rochester Police Department (RPD) officer killed by gunfire in the line of duty since 1959. Officer Pierson was a member of Rochester Police Department’s Tactical Unit and was recognized for his efforts to remove illegal firearms from the streets of Rochester. He received multiple awards and letters of recognition during his time on the force. In addition to being an eight year veteran of the RPD, he was also a member of the Army National Guard. Before becoming a police officer in August 2006, Officer Pierson served in Afghanistan as a member of the US Army.
Schumer and Slaughter have long fought to secure this post office renaming, and successfully passed legislation in Congress last year, to make this dedication a reality. Schumer and Slaughter said today’s dedication will allow for the Rochester community to forever honor and remember Officer Pierson.
Schumer and Slaughter said that, beyond Officer Pierson’s exemplary service to the Rochester Police Department, our nation greatly benefited from his service in the U.S. Army and National Guard, including serving overseas in Korea. Schumer and Slaughter said that renaming the East Rochester Post Office after the decorated officer would serve as a tribute for his family, the community of East Rochester, and his fellow police officers, and that it would be a reminder to future generations of the incredible sacrifice and courage he demonstrated for his country and his hometown. Schumer and Slaughter said that it is only fitting that this East Rochester native and protector be honored in his hometown, as he was an active member of the tight-knit East Rochester community.
In February 2015, Schumer visited East Rochester and stood with members of local law enforcement and Officer Pierson’s family, to launch his campaign to rename the East Rochester Post Office in Officer Pierson’s honor. Schumer’s office was first contacted by Mary Felice Tochelli, a friend of the Pierson family in 2014, with the idea of dedicating the Post Office in honor of Officer Pierson. During this visit, Schumer announced he would introduce legislation to rename this post office as quickly as possible in order to honor Officer Pierson’s legacy. Congresswoman Slaughter introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
Pierson was born in Sodus, NY and grew up in East Rochester. Daryl Pierson spent much of his childhood in East Rochester and graduated from high school there. He was a three-sport athlete and was well-liked among his coaches and teachers. Following years of service in the U.S. Army, where he did tours in Korea, Pierson attended Monroe Community College and joined the Rochester Police Department in 2006. He was still a member of the National Guard.
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