LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Saugerties Police Department, the
New York State Police, the Ulster Police Department, and the Ulster
County Sheriff's Office 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 Saugerties
Police Department, the New York State Police, the Ulster Police Depart-
ment, and the Ulster County Sheriff's Office upon the occasion of
receiving a Police Chiefs Association of Ulster County's Meritorious
Police Service - Team/Unit Award at its Law Enforcement Awards Banquet
which was held at the Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern in Saugerties, New
York on Sunday, May 5, 2013 in recognition and appreciation of their
outstanding service in relation to an April 10, 2012 robbery of the
Sawyer Savings Bank in Saugerties, New York; and
WHEREAS, Just after 1:00 pm on April 10, 2012, the Sawyer Savings
Bank's alarm company contacted the Saugerties Police Department to
report an alarm activation at Sawyer Savings Bank; and
WHEREAS, Within the next few minutes, the Police Dispatcher called
Sawyer Savings and spoke with a staff member; the staff member was not
aware of the alarm, but, placing the Dispatcher on hold, would check;
before the bank employee came back on the phone, multiple Saugerties
patrol cars arrived on the scene and confirmed with the Dispatcher that
a bank robbery had occurred; and
WHEREAS, As Saugerties Police Officers began to arrive at the bank, a
description of the suspect went out over the radio: 5'5" tall, baggy
pants, dark sunglasses, red hat; no sooner than that, the Police
Dispatcher received a call from a good Samaritan, Dr. Robert Martin, who
reported he was now following the suspect's vehicle, a brown van, onto
the Thruway; and
WHEREAS, By then, just about every police car in the county knew of
the robbery and units from the New York State Police, the Ulster Police
Department and the Ulster County Sheriff's Office were on their way to
assist; and
WHEREAS, With Dr. Martin's eagle eye and sharp descriptions, police
were quickly able to locate the suspect vehicle at a rest area on the
New York State Thruway, and after a brief foot pursuit by one of them,
were able to take all three robbers into custody; and
WHEREAS, Police then began to put the pieces of the puzzle together
and determined that the crew had been responding to seven bank robberies
over the course of several days and, thanks to the excellent efforts of
all those involved, an end was swiftly put to their crime spree; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Saugerties Police Department, the New York State Police, the
Ulster Police Department, and the Ulster County Sheriff's Office, all of
which are worthy and due full praise for their commitment and noble
endeavors, 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 Saugerties Police Department, the New York State Police,
the Ulster Police Department and the Ulster County Sheriff's Office.