It's been an emotional couple of days in upstate New York as residents learn more about the two law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty this past weekend.

One of the individuals was Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Hoosock.

"He was the best. He's one of those guys that excelled at everything he did," said Chris Goonan, an environmental conservation officer with the New York State DEC Police.

Friends and loved ones were feeling the raw emotion of mourning as they marked the loss of Hoosock.

His fire gear was still hanging in the locker he left it in at the Moyers Corners Fire Department, where he volunteered for 17 years.

His friends, including Father Chris Celentano, were still in shock. 

“First off, I was angry. But secondly, I was angry to see such a senseless act of violence over something of a traffic stop, or a ticket or a citation. And knowing that this man who had given his life for the community always, whether it was as a volunteer firefighter, as police, that he was simply just supporting his brothers to go and take care of an issue," said Celentano, pastor at Saint Rose of Lima.

For Hoosock, helping out and giving back is all he’s ever known.

“Since he was a little boy, I know that he was drawn to the fire department and as early as he could start, he started. In fact, I was talking with his dad, and his wife said that he would ride his bike to the fire department for calls," said Celentano.

"Paramedic, firefighter, bomb squad. He did everything. But he was the best person," said Goonan.

A career of service that started in his teens and continued until his final day.

“Hootch,” as he was known to friends, was a 22-year-veteran of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, named Deputy of the Year in 2012.

Those closest to him hope his life is remembered for the way he gave back.

"If you tell Mike's story like it's inspirational, someone who knew what he was doing. He knew the risks, and yet he continued to do it with honor and with valor and with courage. So I think just like any good story like Mike's is a real story. And I think it just needs to be told," said Celentano.

"I hope it's remembered through acts of service. I hope that people really appreciate what he gave to his community, his family, his friends, people that he didn't even know,” said Goonan.

At this point, there are three sanctioned fund-raisers for Hoosock, the first one being the online fundraiser known as Fund the First.

Upstate Medical and Barstool Sports will be selling T-shirts, with all proceeds going to his family.

Hoosock’s public services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Expo center at the New York State Fairgrounds.