Five years can seem like a lifetime or pass in the blink of an eye.

That’s how many of Daryl Pierson’s former colleagues look back on September 3, 2014, the day the Rochester police officer was killed in the line of duty.

“When that happened, I think it became very real to people that this is a dangerous job,” said investigator Kirk Pero. “And something like that can happen."

Pero investigated the murder of Pierson, who was fatally shot half a decade ago. He said healing is an ongoing process for the local law enforcement community.

“It was very personal to all of us,” he said. “And I think there was so much shock."

In the five years since the death of officer Pierson, fellow officers have spent much of their free time honoring him by hiking. 

They call it “Peaks for Pierson.”  In his spare time, officer Pierson enjoyed the Adirondacks. His badge number with RPD was 46, so his colleagues decided to hike all 46 of New York State’s high peaks as a way to honor Pierson.

“We always meet people when we're out on the trails,” Pero said.  “They see the flag and they ask what it is, and when we tell them, a lot of times people are touched."

Police have not yet completed the journey, but are aiming at climbing all of the state’s high peaks by this time next year.