WORCESTER, Mass. - Hundreds of friends, family members and fellow police officers gathered Friday for the funeral of Sgt. Derrick Leto. The 18-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department died off duty unexpectedly last week at age 42.

What You Need To Know

  • Funeral services for WPD Sgt. Derrick Leto were held on Friday

  • Hundreds of friends, family members and fellow police officers gathered

  • Those who knew him said they'll remember his commitment to others

  • In addition to his police work, he volunteered at the Friendly House and other locations

In his time with the Worcester Police Department, Leto worked his way up to leader of its recruiting team and had goals to add more women and people of color to the department’s ranks. According to those who knew him since high school, his focus on building up the people around him and staying active in the community started when he was young. 

“He was a great football player, played all four years here," said Ellie Lupafya, a former classmate of Leto's at North High School in Worcester. "He ran track, played on the basketball team his sophomore and junior year. He was just a go-getter, he was part of the popular group, he was very kind, very friendly and he was part of the student council. That’s really how I got to know him was through the student council and helping the community.”

Lupafya and other friends saw Leto grow from a standout athlete to a Marine, and when he came back to Worcester with goals to become a police officer, he still found time to go the extra mile. 

“He would go read at schools so he could educate people," Lupafya said. "He really wanted to get a good message out there that police are here to help. He was just a good friend to everyone that knew him, a good soul, he adored his family.”

Leto also found time in his busy schedule to volunteer with the Friendly House, giving Worcester kids a role model they could look up to. His longtime friend and fellow friendly house worker Steve Green said his legacy is one of selflessness.

"It says a lot, him caring about children and teens, going out of his way to help teens out and make sure they’re going the right direction," Green said. "It meant a lot to them, especially here, where we have 160 to 200 kids, it meant a lot to them, him sitting down for 15 to 20 minutes and just talking about life.”

Leto leaves behind a wife and two children along with hundreds of friends, coworkers and acquaintances he made throughout his life in Worcester.