LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Ulster County Sheriff's Office Deputy
Sheriffs Jonathan Geuss, James Mullen, and Robert Shamro and K9 Triton
upon the occasion of receiving Police Chiefs Association of Ulster Coun-
ty's Meritorious Police Service - Investigation Awards on May 5, 2013

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor
those distinguished officers and citizens who 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 Ulster County
Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriffs Jonathan Geuss, James Mullen, and
Robert Shamro and K9 Triton upon the occasion of receiving Police Chiefs
Association of Ulster County's Meritorious Police Service - Investi-
gation Awards at its Law Enforcement Awards Banquet which was held at
the Diamond Mills and Tavern in Saugerties, New York on May 5, 2013; and
WHEREAS, On May 14, 2012, three teenagers escaped from the Grove
Street Academy Children's Home in Kingston, New York; for the next
several days, the teens proceeded to go on a multi-town crime spree
which came to an abrupt end when they encountered three Ulster County
Deputy Sheriffs and a very eager Police K9 named Triton; and
WHEREAS, On May 18, 2012, Ulster County Deputy Sheriffs Jonathan Geuss
and James Mullen were dispatched to a private home in Rosendale for a
call of a suspicious person inside the homeowner's car; and
WHEREAS, Knowing that these types of crimes are usually not isolated
and with a 1:00 a.m. time of the call giving him little foot or vehicle
traffic in the area, Deputy Mullen began a track with K9 Triton; as both
Deputies and the K9 proceeded along the track they began to discover
numerous pieces of evidence which had been discarded by the suspect; and
WHEREAS, Tracking through a swamp and thorn covered bushes, K9 Triton
successfully located the suspect and "subdued" him until the Deputies
could take the suspect into custody; and
WHEREAS, It could have ended right there as the police had their guy,
but it didn't; all of them, including the K9, were covered in mud and
scratches; they continued to press the suspect for more details until he
subsequently admitted that he was working with two other teens who were
still on the loose; the Deputies even convinced the suspect to take them
to where he and the other two had been camping since fleeing the Grove
Street Academy; and
WHEREAS, It was there that Deputy Mullen, K9 Triton and Deputy Robert
Shamro began a second track which would culminate with more than five
miles of brush, trails, and swamps being searched; and
WHEREAS, Within an hour the two additional suspects were located;
attempting to escape through more woods was useless and they were taken
into custody; and
WHEREAS, Since the arrests were made, the Town of Rosendale Police and
the Sheriff's Office received several burglary and larceny complaints
along the path the suspects traveled; these cases were quickly closed as
stolen property had already been recovered by the alert deputies; and
WHEREAS, During the course of the investigation, Deputy Shamro proc-
essed three separate crime scenes and collected approximately 30 pieces
of evidence; Deputy Mullen and K9 Triton conducted four tracks totaling
over five miles, all of which originated from a simple larceny from a

vehicle that could have easily been logged in the books as another home-
owner who did not lock their car doors, but these deputies and K9 Triton
knew there was more they could do and they did it; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that 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 Ulster County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriffs Jonathan Geuss,
James Mullen, and Robert Shamro and K9 Triton upon the occasion of
receiving Police Chiefs Association of Ulster County's Meritorious
Police Service-Investigation Awards on May 5, 2013; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ulster County Deputy Sheriffs Robert Shamro, Jonathan Geuss,
James Mullen and K9 Triton.