Bill Text: NY J00913 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 913 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commending Firefighter Joseph Hojnacki and Police Officers Matthew A. Hall and Ryan P. Crever as recipients of a Liberty Medal

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-09 - ADOPTED [J00913 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00913-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 913

BY: Senator GRIFFO

        COMMENDING  Firefighter Joseph Hojnacki and Police
        Officers Matthew A. Hall and Ryan P. Crever 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 firefighters, 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
Firefighter Joseph Hojnacki and Police Officers Matthew A. Hall and Ryan
P.  Crever  upon  the  occasion  of  their 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, On Thursday, February 28, 2019, Officers Ryan P. Crever and
Matthew A. Hall were just beginning their early  morning  shift  at  the
police  station  at  301 North James Street in Rome, New York, when they
noticed a city fire truck pull up to the pet  shop  next  door  after  a
second-floor  resident  had  called 911 to report a fire shortly after 4
a.m.; and

  WHEREAS, The two officers went outside, and along  with  Firefighter
Joseph Hojnacki, ran to the pet shop and quickly rushed upstairs to help
the man trapped in the apartment; and

  WHEREAS, Firefighter Joseph Hojnacki and Officers Ryan P. Crever and
Matthew A. Hall entered the smoky apartment, and quickly ascertained the
fire  was  burning  on  the first floor; they found the wheelchair-bound
resident and was informed his dog was also in the apartment; and

  WHEREAS, Firefighter Joseph Hojnacki carried the dog to Officer Ryan
P. Crever who rushed the pet outside to safety; Firefighter Hojnacki and
Officer Matthew A. Hall then helped the victim out of his wheelchair and
slide down the very steep and slippery stairs to safety; and

  WHEREAS, Firefighter Joseph Hojnacki then crawled through the thick,
black smoke to retrieve the man's bag of medications; and

  WHEREAS, Once the man was at the bottom of the stairs, Officers Hall
and Crever gave him a walker and he was taken to the police  station  to
stay  warm;  he  was  eventually  picked  up by the ambulance to receive
medical attention; and

  WHEREAS,  The  true  professionals that they are, all three men went
right back to  work;  Firefighter  Joseph  Hojnacki  joined  his  fellow
firefighters  in  fighting  the hours-long blaze, while Officers Ryan P.
Crever and Matthew A. Hall directed traffic away from the scene  of  the
fire; and

  WHEREAS, Due to the astute actions of these heroic first responders,
a man and his beloved best friend were saved from certain death; 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  Firefighter Joseph Hojnacki and Police Officers Matthew A. Hall
and Ryan P. Crever 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 Firefighter Joseph Hojnacki and Police  Officers  Matthew
A. Hall and Ryan P. Crever.