LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Police Officer Dawn M. Townsend upon the
occasion of her designation as recipient of the Guardian of the Communi-
ty Award

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Police Officer
Dawn M. Townsend upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of
the Guardian of the Community Award, to be celebrated at the 5th Annual
Men of Distinction and Women of Valor Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May
17, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The Men of Distinction and Women of Valor Awards Ceremony is
held each year to honor and pay just tribute to outstanding individuals
whose leadership roles have had a significant impact on the daily lives
of the people of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Maria Townsend was born March 28, 1970 in Mary Immacu-
late Hospital, Queens, New York; following the initial post natal exam,
her parents were informed that due to under developed joints in her
knees and hips she would not be able to walk; and
WHEREAS, As her parents adjusted to the idea of a special needs child,
she began to not only crawl but to try to stand; her parents immediately
took her to a specialist, who prescribed a special brace from which she
would hang at night, and also advised them to place her in an activity
that would help strengthen her leg muscles; and
WHEREAS, With dance as a necessity for her leg strength, at the age of
two, along with therapy, Dawn was registered in the Bernice Johnson
Cultural Arts Center School of Dance and quickly grew to love it; and
WHEREAS, As she continued with her dancing, her grace caught the eye
of many principal dancers from highly recognized dance companies who
advised her mother to place her into a technical school so, at the age
of seven, she auditioned and was accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School
and was quickly placed in an advanced program when the director recog-
nized that she needed to be challenged; and
WHEREAS, Dawn M. Townsend, the youngest and the only African American
student in her dance class, excelled; she also excelled in her academ-
ics, maintaining an A average, despite her five day a week dance regi-
men; and
WHEREAS, In 1988, Dawn graduated from LaGuardia High School of
Performing Arts with both a dance and an academic diploma; she continued
her studies and was encouraged to, and did, take the Police Exam and, on
April 30, 1991, at the age of 21, she was sworn in as an NYPD Police
Officer; and
WHEREAS, Police Officer Dawn M. Townsend's first and only command was
the 73rd Precinct where she was a Patrol Officer for 10 years and
amassed over 150 arrests; she was then assigned as the Precinct Domestic
Violence Officer, Youth Officer and the Community Affairs Officer; and
WHEREAS, As the precinct Youth Officer, Police Officer Townsend had
over 170 youth registered in her Explorer Program; she would often take
them to operas, dance shows, college basketball games and cheerleading
competitions in addition to community service projects such as graffiti
removals and park clean-ups; and
WHEREAS, As the Community Affairs Officer, Police Officer Townsend has
been very instrumental in bridging the gap between the Police and the
community; one very important relationship she is proud to have fostered
is that between the many SUV, motorcycle, and auto clubs, the Clergy,
and the Police Department; and

WHEREAS, She also created and organizes the Annual 73rd Precinct
Thanksgiving Day Feast, where the Precinct cooks and feeds the community
on Thanksgiving Day; she also organizes the Precinct Dear Santa Christ-
mas Program, where young children write letters to "Santa" and receive
gifts from the Police Officers of the 73rd Precinct; and
WHEREAS, Police Officer Townsend is currently in the process of creat-
ing a dance program at Mt. Sion Baptist Church; classes will be free for
all, including both youth and adults, and plans to turn the dance
program into a comprehensive cultural arts program; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Townsend's motto for Brownsville has always been "we can
do it"; for her outstanding work, Police Officer Townsend has received
numerous awards and certificates and was recently the top recipient of
the distinguished 100 Year Association's Isaac Lieberman Award for
Outstanding Community Service by a Public Servant; and
WHEREAS, Police Officer Townsend is an innovator, often coming up with
ideas to help the community, sometimes even using her own money; some
say she has a bleeding heart, but she believes we all need a helping
hand at some time and that it is a blessing when you can help someone in
need; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Police Officer Dawn M. Townsend upon the occasion of her desig-
nation as recipient of the Guardian of the Community Award; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Police Officer Dawn M. Townsend.