LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Chief Joseph Zikuski and the officers of
the Binghamton Police Department for their actions during the Binghamton
American Civic Association Tragedy

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
caring concern and heroic acts of those public servants who take prompt
and appropriate action in emergency situations; and
WHEREAS, The tradition of altruistic public service, heroism and lead-
ership embodied by the Binghamton Police Department is of such magnitude
as to be worthy of special, statewide recognition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Chief Joseph Zikuski and the officers of the Binghamton Police Depart-
ment for their actions during the Binghamton American Civic Association
Tragedy; and
WHEREAS, 13 people, comprised of two employees and 11 immigrants, who
were inside the upstate New York immigration center, were shot and
killed by a single gunman, who immediately committed suicide after this
heinous act on Friday, April 3, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The community center was used in great part to teach people
from countries as far away as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to speak and
write English with the goal of gaining U.S. citizenship; and
WHEREAS, Chief Zikuski and his senior commanders faced difficult deci-
sions in dealing with a potential hostage situation and relied on their
own talent and experience to coordinate actions taken by law enforce-
ment; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of the following weeks, Chief Zikuski served
as a steadfast, dedicated leader and as the face of both the Binghamton
community and Binghamton Police Department to both the local and
national media; and
WHEREAS, Chief Zikuski and the Binghamton Police Department, through
their spontaneous and heroic actions, demonstrated their character and
their compassion for the welfare of others, personifying, by virtue of
their actions, the collective concern of ordinary citizens across the
community of the State of New York who voluntarily respond when others
are in need of help; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Chief Joseph Zikuski and the officers of the Binghamton Police
Department for their actions during the Binghamton American Civic Asso-
ciation Tragedy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Chief Joseph Zikuski and to the Binghamton Police Department.