"Everyone showed up at the foot of Ferry every morning with one mission: Let's go get him," said Rinaldo.

The searchers worked tirelessly and selflessly as they headed out day after day into the turbulent waters of the Niagara River, scanning the water and searching the murky, debris-filled river bed, he said.

"At the end of the day, we did what we said we would do," Rinaldo said Tuesday at the news conference. "We brought our brother home."

Members of the police department and other searchers were heartbroken yet at the same time relieved that they were at least able to find him.

"The time for emotions is now," Rinaldo said.

Funeral arrangements were to be made by Lehner's family in consultation with the police department's protocol officer and could be announced as early as Wednesday, he added.

"Officer Lehner's family wishes to extend a debt of gratitude to all the agencies that have assisted with this and are very thankful for the closure," Rinaldo said. "We are as well."

Condolences poured in to the Buffalo Police Department and to Lehner's family as the news spread that his body had been recovered.