Oswego County Sheriff's Deputy Cailee Campbell was memorialized by hundreds of people at her funeral in Tuesday.
It was a sad afternoon in Fulton, where services were held for Campbell at Fulton Alliance Church. Hundreds of family, friends and law enforcement members said their goodbyes to Campbell, 33, who only 17 months ago, became a patrol deputy in Oswego County.
The dedicated law enforcement with an adventurous soul died last week in a car crash while responding to a call.
“If you got to meet Cailee, you would know her heart was so big,” said Paulena Walrath, one of Campbell’s best friends.
Sheriff Don Hilton says it was the job she worked hard to have.
"She was just a fantastic young lady," Hilton said. "Always [had] a smile on her face. She loved the job and she was excelling at it. It's a great loss."
Campbell was killed last week while en route to a crash scene. Another car collided with her cruiser. She died a short time later at the hospital. That investigation is ongoing.
Campbell began her career in law enforcement as a corrections officer with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office in 2020.
“She wanted nothing more than to be a police officer. She's a great, great person, really hard worker, really driven to pursue this career," Syracuse Police Officer Danielle Soule said.
Brittani Delucia, also a Syracuse police officer, said, “She was just the most bubbly, outgoing, fun person to be around. She always picked people up when they were down. She never left anybody behind.”
Loved ones were joined Tuesday by hundreds of law enforcement members, including three who said they attended the Oswego County Regional Police Academy with Campbell. Their group took on the nickname of “The Fantastic Four.”
“We stand here in unison representing three-fourths of the "Fantastic Four," and our hearts are heavy, because today we mourn the loss of the person who made us whole,” one said.
Campbell is survived by her father, brother, boyfriend, aunts, uncles and friends. The Oswego County Deputies Association has started a memorial fund in Campbell's name.
“You bleed and you sweat next to these people. And we go through like the highest highs and the lowest lows. And there just this chemistry and bond. It's hard to put into words, but when we lose one of us, all of us lose a little piece of our heart is like the only way I can really describe it. Just because we’re one big family,” Soule said.
