Remembering Daniel DiDato: Funeral held for East Fishkill police officer killed in Taconic crash
Daniel DiDato, 47, was driving in his patrol car on the Taconic State Parkway Monday when his vehicle ran off the highway and struck a tree.
It was a somber start to the holiday weekend for family and friends who gathered at St. Columba Church for the funeral of fallen East Fishkill Police Officer Daniel DiDato.
The 47-year-old had 19 years on the force and was the first officer from the department to die in the line of duty.
His watch sadly came to an end on Monday when his cruiser veered off the road and hit a tree on the southbound side of the Taconic State Parkway. He was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
Police said he was on his way to interview an accident victim when his crash happened.
To commemorate his life on Saturday, the officer was honored with a processional and a Mass.
Funeral Livestream: Facebook
The services inside the church lasted about an hour. Then his loved ones gathered outside for a helicopter flyover and the playing of Taps.
Several police officers and firefighters from across the state watched on as the American flag that was on top of his casket was given to his surviving family members.
Some officers who attended, like retired police officer David Wagman, said it was important to show support for his family.
"They're tough events for everybody involved. I was in the ceremony unit for 30+ years and paying respect for our fallen is huge," Wagman said.
Many members of the community also came out for the services, including Karen Trombetta, who works as a bus driver at one of the schools in the area. She said she would often interact with DiDato when he patrolled the campus.
"He was a nice man. He said 'Hi, how are you,'” Trombetta said.
After the funeral concluded, his loved ones left the church for an entombment at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
