'It Hits All Of Us Hard,' NH State Police Staff Sgt. Jesse Sherrill Laid To Rest After Public Memorial Service

MANCHESTER, N.H. (CBS) - They marched in formation, law enforcement from the area, the region, and the country showing the ultimate respect for New Hampshire State Police Staff Sergeant Jesse Sherrill, as a procession carrying his casket arrived in Manchester, NH.

"It's a dangerous job, something where we all have to look out for each other. If we lose one it hits all of us hard," said Laconia, New Hampshire police officer Richard Bassett.

What Staff Sergeant Sherrill did was pay the ultimate price, working a detail October 28 when his cruiser was hit by a tractor-trailer and he didn't survive. It hit home to each and every officer attending the memorial service. "Every one of us has worked that detail, if you've been in the business longer than six months to a year you've worked that detail," said UNH police officer Joseph DiGregorio.

As the flag-draped casket was brought into SNHU arena, so too the cruiser he drove, his uniform hat and boots which were all reminders of his dedication of 20 years of service to the New Hampshire State Police.

"Behind the kind eyes and genuine smile was the hardest, most determined worker who refused to ever say the words 'I can't'," said Colonel Nathan Noyes, director of the force.

He was called a trooper's trooper, but who put family first leaving behind a wife and two children. Physically strong he was known to his friends as "Bigs".

"He was humble, private, never wanted attention or accolades. I'm pretty sure he's wondering why all the fuss about him," said friend Daniel Mariotto.

It wasn't just talk of his duty on the job but also Staff Sergeant Sherrill's gift as a motivator. He coached baseball, including the Barrington All Stars who wore shirts to the service in his honor, and remembered the man who always said 'there's more game left.'

"He's been pushing them to get better in a gentle way but also in a serious way," said Anderson Pickard, who also coached the team.

"If you were down, he would paint a picture of how it's going to be that you were strong and could handle this," said family friend Sandy Beers.

Strong is now what this community wants to be for his family who held a private burial following the service.