4 police officers from Orleans attended trooper’s funeral
OLEAN – Four law enforcement officers from Orleans County attended the funeral service Tuesday in Olean for Ross Riley, a state trooper who died Nov. 20 during a training exercise last week at Letchworth State Park.
The contingent from Orleans joined 1,500 law enforcement officers at the funeral for Riley, who was a member of the elite Special Operations Response Team. Riley was a 17-year veteran of the state police.
“We wanted to pay respects for the fallen officer and his family,” said Steve Smith, Orleans County undersheriff.
Smith attended the service with Chief Deputy Tom Drennan, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni and Tom O’Hearn, lieutenant for the Albion police.
Smith has been working in law enforcement for 40 years.
“Whenever a brother or sister officer loses their life in the line of duty, I’m reminded of something said by John Bradford, an Englishmen in the 16th Century,” Smith said. “’There, but for the grace of God, go I.’”
For more coverage on the funeral, click here to see a report from the Olean Times Herald.
