LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Niagara Falls Police Officers Walter
Nichols, Michael Bird, Nicholas Granto, Richard Fleck and Lieutenant
Kelly Rizzo upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the
2010 Meritorious Service in the Performance of Duty Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor
those distinguished 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 exem-
plary contributions and service on behalf of others; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Niagara Falls
Police Officers Walter Nichols, Michael Bird, Nicholas Granto, Richard
Fleck and Lieutenant Kelly Rizzo upon the occasion of their designation
as recipients of the 2010 Meritorious Service in the Performance of Duty
Award; and
WHEREAS, Police Officers Walter Nichols, Michael Bird, Nicholas Gran-
to, Richard Fleck and Lieutenant Kelly Rizzo were recognized with this
distinguished public service award at the 34th Annual Friends of Temple
Beth Israel Dinner on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at Como Restaurant,
Niagara Falls, New York; and
WHEREAS, On February 7, 2009, an event occurred less than one block
from the new Niagara Falls Municipal Court Complex in Niagara Falls; at
approximately 1:00 am, the Department received a call from a resident
about a subject with a gun in the 1000 block of South Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Unaware of what they faced, the responding officers were
actually being sent to a violent domestic situation where a female
victim was seriously wounded by the suspect, who was heavily armed at
the time; and
WHEREAS, Officer Walter Nichols, the first to arrive on the scene, was
immediately hit with a shotgun blast from the suspect as he exited his
vehicle; the second responding officer, Michael Bird, was also fired
upon and hit in the face by a shotgun blast; the next units to respond,
Lieutenant Kelly Rizzo and Officers Nicholas Granto and Richard Fleck,
also became involved in a heavy exchange of gunfire with the suspect;
and
WHEREAS, They were able to get Officer Nichols out of the line of
fire, who by this time was lying in the middle of the street, seriously
wounded and unable to return any more gunfire; fortunately, the suspect
was hit by shots fired by the Niagara Falls Police Department personnel,
which ended his aggression; and
WHEREAS, The female victim is alive today due to the swift and
tactical response by these five outstanding individuals; 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
honor Niagara Falls Police Officers Walter Nichols, Michael Bird, Nicho-
las Granto, Richard Fleck and Lieutenant Kelly Rizzo upon the occasion
of their designation as recipients of the 2010 Meritorious Service in
the Performance of Duty Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Niagara Falls Police Officers Walter Nichols, Michael Bird,
Nicholas Granto, Richard Fleck and Lieutenant Kelly Rizzo.