LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Herbert E. Zimmerman, Sr.,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr. of Amherst, New York died on Tuesday,
October 7, 2008, at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr. distinguished himself in his profes-
sion and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of his community; and
WHEREAS, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr.'s commitment to excellence, and his
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, includ-
ing charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Born in Williamsville, New York, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr., was
the longtime chief of the Amherst Police Department who oversaw its
growth to a modern suburban force; a lifelong resident of Amherst, he
was a 41- year veteran of the department, including 31 as chief; and
WHEREAS, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr. joined the Amherst police in 1947 and
was made lieutenant in 1951; he then went on to earn the highest civil
service score for the chiefs position at age 38; he was later appointed
chief of the 33-member department in June of 1957; and
WHEREAS, At one point in his career, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr. told a
reporter that his early career consisted of squad cars without heat and
officers who carried candles to defrost their windshields; police duties
then often consisted of relaying telephone messages to farmers without
phones; and
WHEREAS, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr. presided over a period of massive
growth in the town that changed his department from an organization of
"country cops" to a modern suburban department of 140 officers; he over-
saw the relocation of the town's cramped police station in Williamsville
to the modern, computer-equipped headquarters on Audubon Parkway; and
WHEREAS, Upon his retirement on December 31, 1988, Herbert Zimmerman,
Sr. then age 70, was the state's most senior police chief; in February
of 2006, the Amherst Town Board declared the Amherst Police Headquarters
be renamed the Herbert E. Zimmerman Police Building; and
WHEREAS, A decorated veteran of World War II who served in the Europe-
an Theater, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr. served as a captain in an Army
armored division and earned the Purple Heart, a Silver Star with an oak
leaf cluster and four battle stars; and
WHEREAS, A member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Williams-
ville, Herbert Zimmerman, Sr. also served as the president of the Erie
County Association of Chiefs of Police; he was active in the Amherst
Police Club, Post 416 of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion
and the Hutchinson Hose Fire Company; and
WHEREAS, The father of the late Nancy J. Zimmerman, Herbert Zimmerman,
Sr. is survived by his wife of 56 years, Inez, three daughters, Joanne,
Gail and Ann, his son, Herbert Jr., two sisters, Lucille and Jean, and
his brother, Earl; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Herbert E. Zimmerman, Sr., distinguished citizen and
devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Herbert E. Zimmerman, Sr.