Central New York continued to mourn Monday as thousands turned out to remember Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hoosock.
More than a thousand officers filed into the Expo Center at the State Fairgrounds, many from departments in other states and even a unit from Canada.
Hoosock’s wife Caitlin led her children into the event in tears before the casket was brought in by officers. In the ceremony, Caitlin thanked people for coming. She also wanted it to be a celebration of her husband, whom she called a superhero.
“He saved a few lives and had gotten some awards, but that didn’t seem to matter much to him," Caitlin Hoosock said. "He wasn’t in it for the awards, he did it for the love of doing the job. He as in it for the highs and the lows. He was a humble, down-to-earth guy.”
Hoosock was honored with medals of valor in 2012 and 2020, but Caitlin also remembered him for simple things, such as his interest in sports or trivia. Father Christopher Celentano watched Hoosock grow up and knew his commitment to the people. He says the officer was serving the public on the fateful night when he was gunned down.
“But if you knew him, you felt like you were a friend. Quite frankly, you were a friend to him," Celentano said. "When Sunday night came, Hooch responding out the goodness of his heart, laid down his life for us, the Central New York community.”
Once the ceremony was over, a long processional of cars headed to Assumption Cemetery in Syracuse to lay Michael Hoosock to rest. It was the second funeral in three days, as Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen was laid to rest Saturday.
Questions remain about the motive behind the shooting. Police say 33-year-old Christopher Murphy had been drinking and taking drugs before a high speed chase that preceded the fatal shooting of the two officers.
