Senate Bill S3454

                                BILL NUMBER:S3454

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a certain portion
of state route three hundred
fifty-three
the "Trooper Gary E. Kubasiak Memorial
Highway"

PURPOSE:
To honor the memory of Trooper Gary E. Kubasiak, who lost his life in
the service of his community on August 30, 1982.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends the highway law to designate the portion of state
route 353 between the intersections of state routes 62 and 39 as the
"Trooper Gary E. Kubasiak Memorial Highway".

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

JUSTIFICATION:
The State Police, since its creation in 1917, has lost 124 brave and
dedicated members in its ceaseless furtherance of public peace and
order. Though now gone, these public servants' memory lives on, both
in the minds and hearts of the friends, neighbors and families whose
              

lives they touched, as well as in the repositories of New York
State's history. These men and women's names also grace the Wall of
Honor in the New York State Police Academy in Albany, but no single
distinction can rival their sacrifice; no words can accurately
reflect the enormity of what they gave up in the pursuit of their duty.

This bill is a commemoration of one such brave Trooper, Gary E.
Kubasiak, who was lethally shot responding to an assault in the Town
of Dayton on August 30, 1982.

On that day, Trooper Kubasiak, a nine year veteran of the State
Police, was off-duty putting
some finishing touches to his newly constructed home in the Town of
Perrysburg in Cattaraugus County. Trooper Kubasiak was married to his
wife, Melody, with whom he had two young boys:
Ryan and Randy, ages ten and seven.

That day, the State Police Fredonia Barracks was contacted by a mother
of a mentally unstable male, who she reported had just assaulted her.
The mother, who was able to escape the residence, was calling from a
neighbor's home. Troopers dispatched to the scene soon found that her
son had barricaded himself inside her residence, which was stocked
with firearms.

Upon word of these developments, Trooper Kubasiak took it upon himself
to respond to the scene and offer his assistance. Assigned to a K-9
unit, he arrived with his dog Donivan to be briefed by the other
troopers. Together, they resolved to end the dangerous standoff.
Trooper Kubasiak would make contact with the suspect at the front
door, while another officer covered the back of the house. However,


immediately after announcing his presence, Trooper Kubasiak was
tragically struck with three rounds from the suspect's high-powered
rifle. Upon hearing the gun shots, the second officer immediately
confronted the suspect, ordering him to drop his weapon. Failing to
respond, the suspect began to once again take aim, but before he was
able to pull the trigger, the officer fired, wounding him and causing
his rifle to fall. The suspect was placed in custody and secured by
State Police personnel. Following a lengthy trial, he was eventually
sentenced to spend the majority of his life in prison.

On sustaining his injuries, Trooper Kubasiak was immediately rushed to
Tri-County Memorial Hospital. There, he succumbed to what proved to
be lethal wounds. That day, he was the 95th member of the State
Police to be killed in the line of duty.

Every year since his death, Gary's family and friends, along with
members of the State Police have gathered together to remember and
honor his life and work through a mass and breakfast.
His two sons, Ryan and Randy, honor him in another way still: both
have followed in their father's footsteps and joined the State
Police, where they still serve today.

This bill is a small token of appreciation for the immeasurable
sacrifice that Trooper Gary E. Kubasiak made on that solemn day when
his life ended, on August 30th, 1982. It is a tribute to his memory,
which his family, community, the State Police and New York State
continue to honor.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.