Senator Helming Recognizes Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy with Liberty Medal

PALMYRA – During the opening ceremony for the 163^rd Wayne County Fair on Monday, August 13, Senator Pam Helming presented Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Munzert with the New York State Senate Liberty Medal. The Liberty Medal is awarded to individuals who have earned special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers. It is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate.

Deputy Munzert is credited with saving the life of a woman whose vehicle plunged into a pond and overturned following a crash on Bloom Road in Arcadia on Saturday, July 15, 2017. Due to Deputy Munzert’s courageous, selfless actions, the victim of the car crash avoided series injuries. Upon arrival to the scene, Deputy Munzert quickly jumped into the pond – without safety equipment and without regard for his own security – and pulled the victim from the overturned car as both water and smoke swiftly filled the upside-down vehicle.

“The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office mission statement reads in part that deputies are called upon ‘to anticipate and respond to events which threaten public order and the protection of life and property’ and to ‘act not for themselves, but for the good of the public.’ That sums ups precisely and eloquently what Deputy Munzert did last year, and he did exactly that and upheld these ideals to the highest degree. Deputy Munzert is truly a hero who demonstrates great courage and diligence not just in this moment but throughout his career. He continually devotes himself to public service and to the care and welfare of the citizens he is tasked with serving and protecting. When someone demonstrates the true meaning of being a hero – as Deputy Munzert did that day – they deserve commendation for their actions. That is why I consider it a privilege to honor Deputy Munzert for his courageous and meritorious actions and present him with this Liberty Medal. Thank you to Deputy Munzert’s family as well as Sheriff Virts for joining us, and thank you to Wayne County Fair organizers for allowing us to take the time to recognize Deputy Munzert,” Senator Helming said.