Families of fallen officers meet privately with President Biden at MOST

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Less than two weeks after the line-of-duty deaths of two Central New York police officers, each of the officers’ families had the chance to meet with President Joe Biden on his visit to Downtown Syracuse.

The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office confirms Cait Hoosock, the widow of Lt. Michael Hoosock, and their three children had some time with President Biden.

The mother and father of Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen, Michelle and Paul, along with the officer’s sister and sister’s fiancé also met with President Biden, the Syracuse Police Chief tells NewsChannel 9.

Biden met with the families in private rooms within the Museum of Science and Technology after his podium remarks, sources tell NewsChannel 9.

Both officers were shot and killed while responding to a home in the Town of Salina. Jensen’s funeral was held in Rome last Saturday, April 20. Hoosock’s was held at the State Fairgrounds on Monday, April 22.

While at the podium, Biden spoke about the tragedy.

“Before I start, I want to take a moment to honor two officers,” President Biden said. “Two fallen heroes who were killed in the line of duty this month.”

He continued: “We pray for their loved ones who’ve hearts have been broken.”

“I got one of those phone calls under different circumstances, find out you’ve lost part of your soul, lost part of your heart,” Biden said, presumably referring to the death of his son, Beau, to cancer.

Biden said: “The entire Syracuse community is grieving, and we’re grieving with you.”

“You represent the best of us… it’s one of the toughest jobs in America,” Biden said before suggesting he’d meet the families after his speech.

Before Biden, Governor Kathy Hochul began the program with a moment of silence for the officers.