LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Officer Jonathan Tiernan upon the occa-
sion of receiving a Police Chiefs Association of Ulster County's Merito-
rious Police Service - Heroism 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 Officer Jona-
than Tiernan upon the occasion of receiving a Police Chiefs Association
of Ulster County's Meritorious Police Service - Heroism Award at its Law
Enforcement Awards Banquet to be held at the Diamond Mills Hotel in
Saugerties, New York, on Sunday, May 5, 2013; and
WHEREAS, What started out as a simple verbal argument between mother
and son ended up with a taser deployment and the threatened use of a
loaded rifle; and
WHEREAS, On October 21, 2012, when the Saugerties Police Department
was called to a Rivka Road residence for a case of a son not cooperating
with his mother, it would have been easy enough for one to assume that
this was just a run of the mill mother-son argument that might have just
taken some remediation to get through; Saugerties Police Officer Jona-
than Tiernan, however, quickly learned that would not be the case; and
WHEREAS, The call, which started out as an abandoned 911 call, was
changed to a simple request, the suspect's mother simply wanted to talk
to the police about her son; when Saugerties Officers Jonathan Tiernan,
Brett Rell and Paul Gambino arrived, they were quickly advised by the
mother that her son Matthew had locked himself inside his bedroom as he
was upset that she would not bring him to his uncle's house to pick up a
fishing rod; and
WHEREAS, As officers began to talk with Matthew through his closed
door, his mother informed them that there were firearms inside his room,
but they should be locked inside a gun safe; as officers continued to
talk with Matthew, his mood quickly changed and he refused to engage
them in conversation any longer; and
WHEREAS, Things quickly took some sharp turns for the worse; Matthew's
mother told them he may have access to an unsecured .22 caliber rifle
inside the room; she then abruptly decided, with no prior warning, to
barge into her son's room where the officers were trying to resolve the
issue peacefully; things could hardly have gotten any worse at that
point but, no sooner than the mother entered the room, she began yelling
that her son had a gun; and
WHEREAS, The Officers knew they had to act immediately as Matthew was
threatening to shoot and kill his mother; Officer Tiernan entered first
and attempted to gain control of the rifle as Matthew kept yelling that
he was going to pull the trigger; Officer Tiernan then managed to get
the action of the rifle open while Matthew continued to fight with all
of them; and
WHEREAS, Fortunately, as Officer Gambino deployed the Taser into
Matthew, Officer Tiernan was able to gain control of the rifle and the
crisis was over; and
WHEREAS, Matthew was safely taken to a local hospital to get the help
he needed and the officers were able to go home and see their loved

ones; this situation could have ended many different ways but, thanks to
Officers Tiernan, Rell and Gambino, it was a textbook and happy ending
for all; 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 Officer Jonathan Tiernan upon the occasion of receiving a Police
Chiefs Association of Ulster County's Meritorious Police Service Offi-
cer-Heroism Award on May 5, 2013; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Officer Jonathan Tiernan.