Bill Text: NY J01354 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourning the death of John B. Askey, renowned police chief, devoted family man, and distinguished member of his community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-06 - ADOPTED [J01354 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01354-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 1354

BY: Senator RYAN

        MOURNING  the  death  of  John  B. Askey, renowned
        police chief, devoted family man, and  distinguished
        member of his community

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of this Legislative Body to convey its
grateful appreciation and heartfelt regret in recognition of the loss of
a courageous police  officer  who  dedicated  his  life  and  career  in
faithful  service  to  his  family,  community  and  the  Amherst Police
Department; and

  WHEREAS, It is with profound  sadness  that  this  Legislative  Body
records  the  passing  of  retired  Amherst  Police Chief John B. Askey,
noting the significance of his purposeful life and accomplishments; and

  WHEREAS, John B. Askey, who played a key role in making Amherst  the
safest  community in the country during his tenure as police chief, died
on May 20, 2023, at the age of 84; and

  WHEREAS, John B. "Jay" Askey was born in Buffalo, New York,  one  of
six  children,  and  attended  Kenmore  High  School; he enlisted in the
United States Navy in 1956, during which time he served as  an  aviation
electronics  technician  and  attained  the  rank of petty officer third
class; and

  WHEREAS, John B. Askey began his illustrious career with the Amherst
Police Department as a patrolman  in  1963,  before  being  promoted  to
patrol lieutenant in 1969 and patrol captain in 1972; and

  WHEREAS,  After earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from
what is now Buffalo State University in 1975, John  B.  Askey  graduated
from the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Program; and

  WHEREAS,  John B. Askey was then named by Chief Herbert E. Zimmerman
to head planning for the department's move from  Williamsville  to  John
Jay  Audubon Parkway; he was instrumental in the construction of the new
headquarters building, which opened in 1979, and in the establishment of
a computer-aided dispatch system; and

  WHEREAS, In 1979, John B. Askey  became  Zimmerman's  administrative
assistant, handling media relations, personnel, internal investigations,
records and communications; during this time, he was largely responsible
for   writing   rules  for  the  department  and  setting  up  operating
procedures; and

  WHEREAS, John B. Askey was appointed Chief in December of 1988, only
the third chief to  serve  the  Amherst  Police  Department,  which  was
founded in 1924; and

  WHEREAS,  In  this  capacity,  Chief  John B. Askey created a Family
Offense Unit to deal with domestic violence  cases  and  initiated  bike
patrols,  neighborhood  outreach  programs  and  a Drug Abuse Resistance
Education (DARE) program for youth; he also oversaw the response to  the
Spring  of  Life  anti-abortion  protests  in  1992, and coordinated the

town's massive security effort for the World  University  Games  at  the
University at Buffalo in 1993; and

  WHEREAS,  Chief  John  B.  Askey put his department at the forefront
among suburban communities  by  introducing  semi-automatic  pistols  as
standard sidearms for his officers in 1990; he regularly was thrust into
Amherst's  ongoing  debate  about  controlling  deer,  which  included a
bait-and-shoot program carried out by police; and

  WHEREAS, Most notably, under his  able  leadership,  Money  magazine
declared  Amherst,  Buffalo's  most  populous  suburb,  the safest large
municipality in the nation two years in a row (1996 and 1997); and

  WHEREAS,  After  serving  the   Amherst   Police   Department   with
dedication,  loyalty  and  compassion  for 36 years, Chief John B. Askey
retired in January of 1999; he received numerous awards,  including  the
Erie County Bar Association's Police Officer Award; and

  WHEREAS,  In  retirement,  John B. Askey enjoyed golf, spending time
with his family, and wintering in New Smyrna Beach,  Florida;  his  son,
John C., succeeded him as chief in 2007 and retired in 2021; and

  WHEREAS,   With   a  steadfast  and  unwavering  commitment  to  his
community, John B. Askey was a longtime member of the users committee of
Erie County Central Police Services and a member of the  State  Division
of  Criminal Justice planning committee; he was also a member of Amherst
Township Post No. 416, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and

  WHEREAS, In addition to his wife of 61  years,  the  former  Shirley
Duscher,  survivors  include three sons, Timothy, John C. and David; two
brothers,  Thomas  and  Gerald  "Bill";  four  grandchildren   and   two
great-grandsons; and

  WHEREAS,  John B. Askey's infinite selflessness and benevolence will
shine on through his family's vivid and happy memories; his insight  and
strength  will  forever serve as a beacon of love, light and hope to the
countless lives he touched; and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion,  John B. Askey leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory  to  all  who
were  privileged to have known and loved such an amazing man; he will be
deeply missed and truly merits the grateful tribute of this  Legislative
Body; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of John B. Askey, and to express its deepest condolences
to his family; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of John B. Askey.