LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the life of former New York State Police
Superintendent Thomas Constantine

WHEREAS, The quality and sanctity of community life are cherished values
worthy of safeguarding, and this Legislative Body is moved to honor
those exemplary public servants who have devoted their lives to preserv-
ing and protecting such values; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
life of former New York State Police Superintendent Thomas Constantine;
and
WHEREAS, Thomas A. Constantine was born in Buffalo, New York, on
December 23, 1938; and
WHEREAS, He began his law enforcement career in 1960 as a Deputy with
the Erie County Sheriff's Department, and joined the New York State
Police on January 2, 1962, graduating at the top of his recruit class
academically; and
WHEREAS, In 1966, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and then
appointed Investigator in the BCI; he was promoted to Lieutenant in
1971, Captain in 1976, Major in 1978, Inspector in 1979, Assistant Depu-
ty Superintendent in 1981, and Deputy Superintendent/Field Commander in
1984; and
WHEREAS, Then Governor Mario M. Cuomo appointed Thomas A. Constantine
to be the 10th Superintendent of the New York State Police on January 2,
1987; and
WHEREAS, The first Superintendent in 30 years to rise through the
ranks, he immediately undertook a division-wide review of all New York
State Police operations and procedures; and
WHEREAS, His tenure as Superintendent marked the emergence of the
State Police as a major force in combating drug trafficking; and
WHEREAS, Superintendent Constantine is credited with establishing many
innovative programs, including the Community Narcotics Enforcement
Teams; Drug Recognition Technician Program; Saturation Speed Enforcement
Program; INTERPOL Liaison Program; Driving While Intoxicated Checkpoint
Program; Colonel Henry F. Williams Homicide Seminar; Homicide Assessment
Lead Tracking Network; Statewide Narcotics Indexing Program;
1-800-CURB-DWI Program; Computer Crimes Unit; and Consumer Product
Tampering Program; and
WHEREAS, On March 11, 1994, President Clinton appointed Superintendent
Constantine to be Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement
Agency; and
WHEREAS, In that capacity, he oversaw a workforce of more than 7,000
special agents and support staff, and DEA offices in all 50 states and
more than 50 countries; and
WHEREAS, He created new programs to foster closer cooperation with
state and local law enforcement agencies and to enhance their ability to
fight violent drug crime; he also directed efforts to help foreign
governments combat the world's most powerful drug trafficking organiza-
tions; and
WHEREAS, In the fall of 1999, Superintendent Constantine joined the
faculty of the Rockefeller College School of Public Affairs and Policy
as a Public Service Professor; in that capacity, he initiated the
creation of a college-level executive development training program for
municipal police executives that opened its first session in September
2005; and

WHEREAS, He was appointed a Dean at the Rockefeller College School of
Public Affairs and Policy, and continued in a lecturing and mentoring
role there until recently; and
WHEREAS, He also served on the Board of Directors of the Partnership
for a Drug-Free America; and
WHEREAS, In May of 2000, Superintendent Constantine accepted the
biggest challenge of his career when he was appointed by the United
Kingdom Secretary of State to serve as Oversight Commissioner of the
Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland; and
WHEREAS, In September of 2007, Superintendent Constantine was
appointed to a select Senior Advisory Group to the US Director of
National Intelligence; and
WHEREAS, Superintendent Constantine served as a consultant to Califor-
nia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont in matters
involving organized crime, promotional boards and management review; and
WHEREAS, He held an associate's degree from Erie Community College, a
bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and
a master's degree from the State University of New York at Albany where
he completed the academic portion of his doctoral program; he was
selected as the outstanding alumnus of both of the latter; he was later
awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Niagara University (New
York) in 1995, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Stonehill College
(Massachusetts) in 1997, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the State
University of New York in 2012; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Constantine was married to his loving wife, Ruth Ann,
for 55 years, with whom he had six children; and
WHEREAS, The courageous and dedicated efforts of public servants such
as Superintendent Thomas A. Constantine, who devoted their lives to
protecting the lives of others, are worthy of the praise and recognition
of this Great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the life of Superintendent Thomas A. Constantine; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ruth Ann Constantine.