Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson accepted the prestigious "Big of the Year" award from Big Brothers, Big Sisters on behalf of fallen Sgt. Sean Gannon, killed in the line of duty in April.
Gov. Charlie Baker helped present the award.
"He was the kind of young man that you'd want as a son, as a friend, as a colleague, that you'd want your daughter to bring home," Baker said.
Gannon's father, Patrick, says his son would be humbled.
"He would be very embarrassed to be receiving an award like this," Patrick Gannon said. "He likes to be in the background and not in the limelight, but what he'd really like about this award is that it's people helping people."
Gannon mentored 12-year-old Rylee from Cape Cod for three years. They'd draw, go to the movies or the water park and go bowling.
Gannon's mom, Denise, says each day without her son has been painful.
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"When you lose a child, it's an ultimate loss, but when you lose a son to murder, it's another kind of grief," she said. "Especially one who offered such promise."
Now, Sean Gannon's parents are sorting through more than ten thousand letters of support, condolences and need for change.
"Maybe our gun laws are too loose, maybe the courts don't have what they need to impart appropriate actions for people that would help to keep the community safer. Something's not right," said Patrick Gannon.
Moving forward, Frederickson says they will take over Gannon's mission of being a mentor to Rylee.
