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Life and death a "way of life" for those in law enforcement

By PAT BAILEY

Story Created: Jun 13, 2011 at 4:17 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 13, 2011 at 5:34 PM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Of the several thousand police officers in attendance at the funeral for Oneida County Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman on Monday, many said the funeral was a sobering example of what can happen any day of the week.

Only the state of Texas has had more police officer deaths than New York State this year.

In all, 83 police officers have been killed in the line of duty nationwide. Several officers called Monday's funeral a tremendous reminder of what could happen while on the job.

"It is a reminder of the risk we take everyday," said Christian hunt, a Vermont State Trooper. "We do the best we can to be safe everyday, but sometimes you just never know and it is part of the job unfortunately."

"There is a mental aspect, there is a physical aspect,the family aspect," said Sgt. Douglas Keyton of Newark, NY. "The toll it has taken on the family at home. This is just an explanation point in all of that. This is a way of life."

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