LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Ellenville Police Department and
URGENT upon the occasion of receiving a Police Chiefs Association of
Ulster County's Meritorious Police Service - Team/Unit Award 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 the Ellenville
Police Department and URGENT (the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement
Narcotics Team) upon the occasion of receiving a Police Chiefs Associ-
ation of Ulster County's Meritorious Police Service - Team/Unit Award 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, A thirteen-month undercover drug investigation with 70 under-
cover drug buys netting 23 arrests and 108 felony charges is a good day
in most police officers' books; for members of the Ulster Regional Gang
Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT) and the Ellenville Police Department
Team, it was a great day; and
WHEREAS, The operation began in January 2012 as the two teams entered
into a joint investigation into drug trafficking in and around the
Village of Ellenville, New York; and
WHEREAS, The first part of the job was for investigators to gather
intelligence on the criminals; their comings and goings, daily routines,
criminal histories and the like; from there it was up to the informants
and undercover officers to get in and make their buys; and
WHEREAS, Seventy undercover drug buys later they were ready for the
next phase, indictment, which can be a long and arduous task where
testimony is presented to a grand jury on each and every criminal; not
only did they do it, they did it exceedingly well and, with indictments
in hand they were ready to roll; and
WHEREAS, On December 8, 2012, beginning in the early hours of the
morning, members of the Ellenville Police Department, URGENT, the United
States Marshals Service, the New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task Force,
the Ulster County Emergency Response Team and the Ulster County Sher-
iff's Office Corrections SERT began the round-up; and
WHEREAS, When it was all said and done, twenty-three criminals from
the Village of Ellenville and the Town of Wawarsing were in custody;
among the seized drugs were heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, diverted
pharmaceuticals and marijuana; dubbed "Operation Southwest Shake-Up,"
the operation successfully concluded that day without any injuries; 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 the Ellenville Police Department and URGENT upon the occasion of
receiving a Police Chiefs Association of Ulster County's Meritorious
Police Service - Team/Unit Award on May 5, 2013; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Ellenville Police Department and to the Ulster Regional
Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT).