Bill Text: NY J02118 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Commending five Police Officers upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-20 - ADOPTED [J02118 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02118-Introduced.html

Senate Resolution No. 2118

BY: Senator HARCKHAM

        COMMENDING  five Police Officers upon the occasion
        of their designation  as  recipients  of  a  Liberty
        Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual
        by the New York State Senate

  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor  those  distinguished  officers  and  citizens  who  would  devote
themselves  to public service, demonstrating great courage and diligence
in providing  for  the  care  and  welfare  of  the  citizens  of  their
communities and this great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS,  Within  every community of the State of New York there are
certain individuals who, by virtue of their commitment  and  dedication,
command  the  respect  and  admiration  of  their  community  for  their
exemplary contributions and service on behalf of others; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body  is  justly  proud  to  commend  five
Police  Officers upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of
a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an  individual  by  the
New York State Senate; and

  WHEREAS,  The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is  awarded  to  individuals  who  have  merited  special
commendation  for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS, On April 12,  2019,  the  Pleasantville  Police  Department
received  a  report  of  a man standing on the edge of the Manville Road
overpass that crosses over the Saw Mill  River  Parkway;  officers  were
dispatched to the location and mutual aid was requested; and

  WHEREAS,  Officers from the Mount Pleasant Police Department and the
Westchester County Department of Public Safety responded to assist  with
traffic  control,  as  well  as  provide assistance with speaking to the
emotionally disturbed subject on the bridge; and

  WHEREAS, Once on the  scene,  Sergeant  Juan  Garcia  (Pleasantville
Police  Department)  positioned himself on the southbound Saw Mill River
Parkway to coordinate the traffic control and deployment  of  lifesaving
equipment with the County Police; and

  WHEREAS,   Police   Officer   Erin   Holly   (Pleasantville   Police
Department), Detective Rob  Barber  (Westchester  County  Department  of
Public  Safety),  and  Detective  Lauren  Valentino  and Sergeant Walter
O'Keeffe (Mount  Pleasant  Police  Department)  began  speaking  to  the
subject  on  the  bridge,  a  19  year-old  resident of Pleasantville in
crisis; and

  WHEREAS, As the officers spoke to the young man,  they  used  verbal
de-escalation  tactics to calm him down and build trust before patiently
and carefully moving closer to him, constantly utilizing their  training
and assessing the situation; and

  WHEREAS,  Over  the course of approximately 30 minutes, the officers
positioned themselves close enough to the  subject  to  secure  him  and
remove  him  from  danger;  he  was  then transported to the Westchester
County Medical Behaviorial Health Unit for evaluation; and

  WHEREAS,  Justly  recognized  as  heroes,  these five brave officers
richly  merit  the  admiration  of  this  Legislative  Body  for   their
consummate, swift action in saving the life of a young man; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body that those
dedicated public servants who unselfishly  devote  their  lives  to  the
preservation  of  order  and the protection of others are worthy and due
full praise for their commitment and noble endeavors; now, therefore, be
it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  five  Police Officers upon the occasion of their designation as
recipients of a Liberty  Medal,  the  highest  honor  bestowed  upon  an
individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted  to  Sergeant  Juan  Garcia,  Police  Officer  Erin   Holly,
Detective  Rob  Barber,  Detective  Lauren Valentino and Sergeant Walter
O'Keeffe.
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