Senate Resolution No. 586

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the New
York State Police Department

WHEREAS, The quality of life in New York State is largely reflective
of the commitment and dedication demonstrated by members of the agencies
which serve to protect, preserve and maintain public order; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those distinguished citizens who devote their life's work and
purpose to public service, contributing to the care and welfare of the
citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the New York State Police
Department, to be recognized with a Centennial Kick Off Celebration on
Tuesday, April 11, 2017; and

WHEREAS, In 1913, a construction foreman was murdered in a robbery
in Westchester County; with no local police department at the time, the
man's murderers escaped, even though he identified them before he died;
and

WHEREAS, The man's employer, Moyca Newell, and her friend, Katherine
Mayo, started a movement to form a State Police department to provide
police protection to all of the state's rural areas; and

WHEREAS, As the result of their efforts, the State Legislature
passed legislation on April 11, 1917, that established the New York
State Police (NYSP) as a full-service agency; and

WHEREAS, Since the first 232 men rode out of the New York State Fair
on horseback to begin patrolling New York's rural areas, Troopers have
been there to fulfill the law enforcement needs of the people of the
State of New York with the highest degree of fairness, professionalism,
and integrity; and

WHEREAS, The department's first superintendent was George Fletcher
Chandler, who was responsible for much of the organization's early
development; he coined the term "New York State Troopers" and was an
early advocate of officers carrying their weapons exposed on a belt,
which was not a common practice at the time; and

WHEREAS, As the original basic role states, it shall be the duty of
the State Police to prevent and detect crime and apprehend criminals;
they shall also be subject to the call of the governor and empowered to
cooperate with any other department of the State or with local
authorities; and

WHEREAS, The NYSP divides New York State geographically into 11
Troops, each comprising a specific geographic area and each supervised
by a Troop Commander; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the New York State Police Department
has grown to employ more than 4,900 sworn state troopers; and

WHEREAS, Over its distinguished 100 year history, the New York State
Police Department has demonstrated continuous service to the residents
and communities which it serves; and

WHEREAS, The tradition of altruistic public service, heroism and
leadership embodied by the New York State Police Department is of such
magnitude as to be worthy of special, statewide recognition; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the New York State Police
Department; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the New York State Police Department.