LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Ex-Fire Chief Walter Crosby upon the
occasion of his retirement after 50 years of distinguished service to
the Mineola Fire Department

WHEREAS, The firefighters of New York State are renowned throughout the
Nation; their reputation is synonymous with excellence in the arduous
field of fire protection and prevention; and
WHEREAS, Since the early days of "teapot steamers," the volunteer
firefighter has been the cornerstone of our great Nation's efforts to
spare us from the ravages of fire; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commend Ex-Fire Chief
Walter Crosby upon the occasion of his retirement after 50 years of
distinguished service to the Mineola Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, To celebrate this auspicious event, a dinner was held in
honor of Walter Crosby, with many dignitaries in attendance, on Satur-
day, January 8, 2011; and
WHEREAS, During his 50 years of dedicated service, Walter Crosby moved
through the ranks serving as Lieutenant for four years before taking the
role of Captain from 1970-1972; at the end of his term, Walter Crosby
continued to serve as a member of the Mineola Fire Department at the
same time pursuing a career in law enforcement and raising a family; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, Walter Crosby was elected to serve as an Assistant
Fire Chief; his outstanding performance gained much acclaim and respect;
consequently, he was elected to the esteemed position of Chief of the
Department in 1985, serving in this capacity until 1987; and
WHEREAS, As Chief, Walter Crosby made many significant contributions
to the Mineola Fire Department; he is credited with the implementation
of the Department Newsletter, established to increase information shar-
ing between its members, as well as having played a pivotal role in
making sure other members of the department get the uniform recognition
they deserve; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Walter Crosby established fire prevention
programs for both children and senior citizens and has worked diligently
to provide new fire equipment for his fellow firefighters; and
WHEREAS, Following his term as Fire Chief, Walter Crosby continued to
serve as a Safety officer, assisting the successive chiefs at fire
scenes and training development; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious career with the Mineola Fire
Department, Walter Crosby has been the recipient of many awards and
accolades including the 1997 Mineola Fire Department Fireman of the Year
Award, the 2008 Town of Hempstead Firematic Award, and Truck Company 2's
2010 Firefighter of the Year Award; and
WHEREAS, Walter Crosby also excelled in his chosen profession, Law
Enforcement; with over 20 years of service with the New York City Police
Department, he retired as a decorated Detective in the Brooklyn Homicide
Bureau; and
WHEREAS, After his retirement from the Police Department, this dedi-
cated officer continued to help in the law enforcement field, working as
the Chief Investigator for the New York State Attorney General's Medi-
caid Unit; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Grace, their four
children, Jeanne, Michael, Thomas and Chris, and their three granddaugh-
ters, Lauren, Amanda, and Michaela, all of whom feel privileged to be a
part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters and fire departments not only provide
the critical service of fire protection but also engage in other activ-
ities of great benefit and importance to the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, It takes a special dedication, a strong desire to help others
and a tireless sense of community to forsake precious time with family
and friends to respond to the signal that a neighbor is in need; Walter
Crosby is such a firefighter; throughout 50 years of devoted service,
this volunteer heroically performed, above and beyond the call of duty,
those responsibilities which define the task of fire protection; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Ex-Fire Chief Walter Crosby upon the occasion of his retirement
after 50 years of distinguished service to the Mineola Fire Department;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ex-Fire Chief Walter Crosby.