A statue honoring fallen Rochester Police Officer Daryl Pierson was unveiled Friday in East Rochester.

Lifelong East Rochester native and artist Mark McDermott was approached by the mayor who asked him to create piece in memory of Pierson.

McDermott says the statue went through several different styles before he settled on the final fiberglass design. He drew inspiration from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.

Mcdermott says he was a bit overwhelmed with the response.

"I sit in a little dark shop and build these to make people happy, so coming out here in front of the cameras is a little ... But it feels good, especially when the family just comes up and says they don't know what to say. That paid for everything."

Pierson was killed in 2014 when he was shot while trying to arrest a suspect.