Police say goodbye to friend, colleague

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The western New York community is remembering Officer Patty Parete, Wednesday.  Buffalo police officers in uniforms, officers from other departments, family, friends and community members all packed the Trinity Episcopal Church. The service is being called “A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Patricia Parete.”

  PHOTOS | Police officers and community members gathered outside of Trinity Episcopal Church Wednesday morning

  READ | Eulogy given at service by Officer Meegan

During the procession, the organ prelude was from the Book of Common Prayer, which says in part, “At peace from now on are all who die, so it says the Spirit, for they rest from your labors.”

Before the service Wednesday, Church Rector Cameron Miller said, "While we are surrounded by grief and sadness, and even anger, this is a place we're going to make room for gratitude."

A special prayer for Patty’s family spoke of “the love of community, and friendship” that surrounds them. The community raised tens of thousands of dollars, for Patty’s medical care and a special home and van designed to meet her needs.

Mayor Byron Brown spoke at the service, as well as Officer Parete’s longtime friend and colleague Officer Daniel Meegan, who gave the stricken officer life-saving CPR, as her pulse was weakening after the shooting.

On the night of December 5th 2006, Patty had been paired up with Officer Carl Andolina, on a special detail patrolling the downtown Buffalo business district. The two responded to a call of a fight and both officers were shot during a scuffle that followed.

She was left partially paralyzed by her injuries and she endured a difficult road to recovery, that had her spending months in the hospital and then to New Jersey for rehab.

Officer Meegan remembered Patty’s zest for life and her sense of humor, and the people who dedicated themselves to her care, and their six-year efforts to keep her spirits up.

Her former boss Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson attended the service Wednesday, and remembered the sacrifices of Patty Parete, and all she gave to the Buffalo Police Department.