Most years, statistics show that traffic-related accidents are the leading cause of death for police officers.

"When you're standing out in traffic, your nerves are always heightened, your hair on the back of your neck may stand up. You know, there's a lot of distracted driving going on nowadays," said Sergeant Jon Rivers of the Rochester Police Department.

"Safety is first and foremost for us, we come to work, we want to make sure we go home from work." 

It was a traffic-related accident on North Goodman Street that proved fatal for Patrolman Leo Kerber on December 10, 1961. 

"Union strike was going on with the bus company. He was assigned to duty there to keep peace between management and labor. They had successfully settled their contract and he left on foot. While he was crossing the street, he was hit by a car. In fact, the impact was so bad, it took him right out of the shoes," said Lynde Johnston, police historian and retired captain of the Rochester Police Department.

Officer Kerber had almost 40 years on the force and was among the first officers to drive the prowl car. He left behind a wife and two daughters. He was described as a well-liked and dedicated officer.

Eighteen years later, another RPD officer lost his life on Court Street when he was patrolling on his three-wheeled motor scooter Jan. 3, 1979. Patrolman John Jenkins was a World War II veteran and rode motorcycles for most of his career.

"He was the best motorcycle, I mean native type motorcycle rider, that I ever saw," said Delmar Leach, retired chief of the Rochester Police Department.

Leach recalled his days on the job when he was Jenkins' partner for two years. The two worked at a weigh station, making sure truckers followed weight limits. 

"He never missed a day, he was there and reliable for me, and we just did our job and weighed a lot of trucks and made a lot of truckers mad at us," said Leach.

Leach enjoyed a more-than 30-year police career, and that's why he says it's important to remember those officers less fortunate.  

"As any of our heroes need to be enshrined, and need to be kept in the public by us, what they represent, they represent their service to the people," said the former police chief.