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Deputy Wyman among fallen officers honored at Albany memorial

By LEXIE O'CONNOR

Story Created: May 8, 2012 at 6:15 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 8, 2012 at 6:34 PM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - New York State honored 27 police officers on Tuesday who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. One of those honored was Oneida County Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman, who was killed at a standoff last June.

The rainy day was fitting for the somber mood that surrounded the police officers' memorial in Albany as law enforcement officials, friends and family as they remembered Deputy Wyman and the other officers who lost their lives protecting their communities.

"To be here for the Wyman family and also to be here for the remembrance of Deputy Wyman...he was a very decorated member of the Sheriffs Department," said Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol. "A hero cop, hero dad, hero spouse, hero son, and think, this way we will make sure he will never be forgotten."

Deputy Wyman was shot and killed last June by a man who barricaded himself in his garage in the Town of Augusta, his death leaving behind a grieving community, parents, wife, a one year old son, and baby daughter who was born the same day Wyman died.

With prayer and salutes, Friday's ceremony reminded the families of the fallen officers that their loved ones will always be remembered.

"I think it gives me encouragement, because I have another place to go, of solitude to go and remember Kurt," says Lauren Wyman, his widow. "Seeing his name on the memorial, it's more than just his name. It's his story, his legacy."

Deputy Wyman joins 27 police officers from around New York State being honored and added to the state's memorial, a place Lauren Wyman says she will one day bring her 2 and half year old son and baby daughter to remember their dad.

With the addition of Friday's officers, the memorial now honors over 1,324 officers who have lost their lives serving communities across the state.

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