More than 60 people gathered at the edge of the Niagara River Wednesday to honor the life and memory of late Lt. Craig Lehner. 

The Buffalo Police Department officer drowned in the river following an incident while on a training exercise. 

One year after his body was recovered, friends, family and members of the police department came together for a vigil organized by the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association. 

 

 

"The reason for us coming together in this vigil is to lean on each other," said Robert Mercurio of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association. "The outpouring of support over the last year has been unbelievable, its been overwhelming."

Throughout the day, dozens of passersby visited the K-9 officer's memorial. 

"I had no personal connection to him and yet I feel like I do now cause we've learned so much about what he endured here, but also the life he lived before hand and I believe that he was such a shining example of what a police officer should be," said Siobhan O'Connor. 

One of the first to attend Wednesday's vigil was Davaneo Dolson, who said he hopes to follow Lehner's example and pursue a career in criminal justice.

 

 

Dolson won the inaugural scholarship named after Lieutenant Craig Lehner. 

"I think it opened a lot of doors for me," Dolson said. "Today I just wanted to recognize him and give honor to him."