LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Police Detective Joseph Lofaro upon the
occasion of receiving the Meritorious Police Service-Investigation Award
from the Ulster County Police Chief's Association on May 9, 2012

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 Police Detec-
tive Joseph Lofaro upon the occasion of receiving the Meritorious Police
Service-Investigation Award from the Ulster County Police Chief's Asso-
ciation, to be celebrated at its 2012 Police Chief's Awards Banquet on
Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at the Wiltwyck Golf Course in Kingston, New
York; and
WHEREAS, A distinguished member of the Marlboro Police Department,
Police Detective Joseph Lofaro has continually demonstrated extreme
competence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent leadership in his
unwavering service to his community and profession; and
WHEREAS, On October 11, 2009, Marlboro Police investigated a serious
hit-and-run motor vehicle accident in which a small sedan occupied by
five young women was struck in the rear by a white pick-up truck; and
WHEREAS, When Police Detective Joseph Lofaro was assigned the case,
there were no eyewitnesses, no video, no description of the driver, just
a white pick-up truck; and
WHEREAS, Detective Joseph Lofaro began to meticulously sort through
any potential evidence on the scene, and with car parts he found at the
scene he successfully narrowed his search down to a white Toyota Tundra
pick-up truck; and
WHEREAS, Next, Detective Joseph Lofaro began to contact every auto
repair body shop in the area to see if any of them may have repaired
such a car; he was subsequently notified by a local body shop that they
had in fact repaired such a vehicle; and
WHEREAS, The repair shop still had a piece of the damaged car's front
grill, which Detective Joseph Lofaro sent off to the FBI for comparison
to a piece of a grill he recovered from the scene; and
WHEREAS, Detective Joseph Lofaro also learned from his investigation
that the owner of the truck had also filed an insurance claim stating he
had struck a deer; and
WHEREAS, Using cell phone technology, and working with Toyota USA, the
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the FBI, Detective
Joseph Lofaro was able to prove that the driver of the pick-up truck
could not have been where he said he was during the time of his alleged
car/deer accident; and
WHEREAS, Working with the Ulster County District Attorney's Office,
Detective Joseph Lofaro presented his case to an Ulster County Grand
Jury which subsequently indicted the driver on several charges including
Insurance Fraud, Falsifying Business Records and Leaving the Scene of a
Personal Injury Accident; the next step was trial; and
WHEREAS, In November of 2012, the driver of the pick-up truck was
found guilty on charges of Insurance Fraud and Falsifying Business
Records; and

WHEREAS, Police Detective Joseph Lofaro's ongoing persistence and
outstanding detective work ultimately brought justice to the victims of
this hit-and-run automobile accident; 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 Police Detective Joseph Lofaro upon the occasion of receiving the
Meritorious Police Service-Investigation Award from the Ulster County
Police Chief's Association on May 9, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Police Detective Joseph Lofaro.