Senate Resolution No. 546

BY: Senator PALUMBO

COMMENDING Bill Gorga upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New
York State Senate

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the caring concern and heroic acts of individuals who take
prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations, nobly risking
their own lives in an effort to preserve the life of another; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Bill Gorga upon the occasion of his designation as recipient 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, Around 2 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2023, Bill Gorga of
East Marion, New York, was out shopping for Valentine's Day on Front
Street in Greenport, New York, when he noticed the car parked in front
of him was running; and

WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, Bill Gorga witnessed the car speed off
as a woman frantically came running out of the store, screaming that
someone had stolen her car with her grandchild in the car seat; Bill
immediately opened the door, and he and the distraught grandmother raced
after her vehicle heading west on Route 25; and

WHEREAS, Bill Gorga caught up to the SUV near Moores Lane and cut it
off on the shoulder, and the grandmother sprang out of his car and
jumped into her vehicle to save the baby; the driver of the stolen car
took off again with the both the grandmother and the child inside; and

WHEREAS, Bill Gorga continued to pursue the SUV and managed to get
the driver to stop near Silvermere Road, where the thief released the
grandmother and child from the stolen vehicle and then continued
westbound; and

WHEREAS, As Bill Gorga was calling 911, an officer in a sector car
saw the grandmother, child and Bill standing on the shoulder of Route 25
and shared information about the vehicle and a description of the driver
to other sector cars; and

WHEREAS, Within minutes, the Southold sector car operator saw the
SUV speeding westbound near Town Harbor Lane in Southold and attempted
to catch up; the man driving the stolen car sped through Southold
Village, passing other vehicles and disregarding traffic signals until
he struck a guardrail, drove up onto the Southold American Legion
property, and then came to rest along Route 25; and


WHEREAS, Responding officers quickly apprehended him without a
struggle and transported him to police headquarters for processing; and

WHEREAS, Bill Gorga, in his spontaneous and heroic acts, has so
aptly demonstrated his character and compassion for the welfare of
others, personifying, by virtue of his action, the collective concern of
ordinary citizens across the community of New York State who voluntarily
respond without thought of danger or reward when others are in need of
help; now, therefore, be it

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

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Bill Gorga.