Slain officer remembered

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Rochester Police Officer Daryl Pierson and his partner, Officer Mike Dipaola, were honored Friday at the 10th annual Human Service Worker luncheon.

Pierson was killed in the line of duty Sept. 3 while pursuing a suspect on Hudson Avenue. Dipaola shot and apprehended Thomas Johnson III, the man suspected of shooting Pierson.

“These officers put their lives on the line every day and Pierson made the ultimate sacrifice for the community,” said Evelyn Evans, president of the Federation of Social Workers. “Their bravery and dedication epitomize human service.”

Pierson’s family and Dipaola were presented the Human Service Worker Courage Award.
Larry and Jane Glazer were honored posthumously for their volunteer work and many philanthropic contributions to the Rochester area. The couple was killed Sept. 5 after their private plane crashed off the coast of Jamaica after an apparent mechanical failure.

Robert J. Duffy received the Human Service Worker Lifetime Achievement Award for his many contributions as a police officer for the Rochester City Police Department, police chief of the same department, mayor of the city of Rochester and New York state lieutenant governor.
Also recognized were:

• Aida Avila of St. John’s Home, winner of the Human Service Worker of the Year Award for the Private Sector. Runners-up were Erica Bryant, columnist for the Democrat & Chronicle, and Maggie Harris of Community Lutheran Ministry;
• Beverly Jackson of Rochester’s Pathway to Peace, the Human Service Worker of the Year Award for the Public Sector. Runner-up was Leah Miller of the Monroe County Department of Human Services;
• Chelsey Franz, Monroe County Department of Human Services, the Bertina Forde Rising Star Award; and
• Kim King, Monroe County Department of Human Services, the Human Service Memorial Award.