Law enforcement members salute as the body of Ocala Police Officer Jared Forsyth is carried into St. John the Baptist Church Friday morning. Hundreds were on hand for the 33-year-old's funeral. (PHOTOS BY STEPHEN M. WALLACE / CONTRIBUTOR)

By +Scott Leffler 
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

---

Law enforcement from across Western New York and Ocala, Fla. were on hand Friday morning and afternoon to bid adieu to one of their own.

Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert drives by DeSales Catholic School on his way to the funeral at Hartland Cemetery. The entire student body watched the funeral procession go by.

Well over 100 police officers from more than two dozen local agencies, as well as those from Canada and approximately 30 officers from the Ocala, Fla. Police Department were on had at St. John The Baptist Church on Chestnut Street for a 10 a.m. memorial service for Jared Forsyth, the former Lockportian who was tragically shot last week in a training accident in Florida.

The funeral procession from St. John's to Hartland Cemetery seemed to be an unending line of emergency vehicles. One after another passed down East Avenue Friday afternoon as crowds gathered, lining the street to watch. At DeSales Catholic School, the entire student body stood on the front lawn to watch the procession pass.

Forsyth died after being tragically shot during firearms training at the Lowell Correctional Institution. A bullet went into Forsyth's chest after another officer's gun accidentally discharged, ricocheting off a bench and into his chest from the side, where his bulletproof vest offered no protection.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.

Ocala's police chief presents Jared Forsyth's flag at the funeral Friday afternoon.

More photos of the funeral are available here. (link)

---

For instant access to East Niagara Post's YouTube videos, social media feeds and more, 

download the new ENP Mobile app for Android.