We often forget to thank the people who keep us safe. With all the negative news around a handful of officers, we need to remember that countless people are dedicating their lives to law enforcement and helping their communities.
Four Central New York officers and deputies paid the ultimate price while on duty. These officers were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington this year. Those officers are:
- Onondaga County Sheriff Lt. Michael Hoosock and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen, a Rome, NY native, were ambushed in April of 2024 by a gunman in Salina.
- Oswego County Sheriff Deputy Cailee Campbell was killed in a vehicle crash in September 2024 in Volney.
- Oneida Nation Police Sgt. Ronald Owen passed in November 2020 from COVID-19 while on duty.
Each of our area’s heroes’ names were etched into the wall and unveiled during National Police Week, which started May 11th, 2025. The officers and deputies were celebrated with a candlelight vigil at the National Mall hosted by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
