Coping with tragedy

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Authorities say Utica Police Detective Joseph Longo, 41, stabbed his wife, Kristin Longo, 39, to death in their Deerfield, N.Y. home on Monday, September 28, 2009. (Earl Davis / WKTV)

By EVAN WHITE

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - As relatives of Joseph Longo Jr. and his wife Kristin continue grieving, another family is grieving, the Utica Police department. Longo Jr. was a member of the Utica Police Department for more than a decade, now more than a dozen officers are seeking the help of Chaplain Joseph Salerno.

"I think people feel very conflicted right now why this happened what motivated Joe to do what he did and we know he did something that goes against the very impression that he embraced," said Salerno.

The only other tragedy in recent memory that touches the devastation brought by these deaths was that of fallen UPD officer Thomas Lindsey who was killed on duty in 2007.

However, there was a major difference. That tragedy fueled the force with anger, wanting nothing more than to find Lindsey's killer. Conversely Longo's killing of his one that's left four children without parents and more questions than answers has resulted in utter shock.

What can be said to comfort those who worked so closely with Longo, ones who knew him as well as some relatives may have?

"You try to respond as personally as you can, the major thing I do is just be present, so if anyone needs to speak to me on a personal basis I'm there."

Just reaching out to people and seeing how they are doing has already begun making a major difference according to Salerno.

"Trust me police officers don't hug readily, but in this instance, I think the first thing we do when we see each other is a handshake and a hug and are you doing ok and are you feeling ok and do you need to talk through anything."

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