Senate Resolution No. 780

BY: Senator PALUMBO

COMMENDING retired NYPD officer Frank Recupero
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the caring concern and heroic acts of individuals who take
prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations, nobly risking
their own lives in an effort to preserve the life of another; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend retired
NYPD officer Frank Recupero upon the occasion of his designation as
recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, On Saturday, April 10, 2021, retired NYPD officer Frank
"JR" Recupero was driving his car in the Village of Patchogue on Long
Island when he witnessed a Suffolk County officer struggling with a man
who had just crashed his car at the corner of South Ocean Avenue and
Brook Street, and had run into the backyard of former Marine Guillermo
Sandoval; and

WHEREAS, Frank Recupero's instincts kicked in and he immediately ran
to help Officer Christopher Racioppo who had just been critically
stabbed in the leg by the assailant; without fear for his own safety, he
tackled the attacker, not knowing where the knife was; and

WHEREAS, While Frank Recupero was trying to subdue the man,
Guillermo Sandoval grabbed a belt and applied a tourniquet to Officer
Christopher Racioppo's leg which was bleeding profusely; his fellow
officers soon arrived to help, and Officer Racioppo was transported to
Stony Brook University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery;
and

WHEREAS, Frank Recupero truly helped save the life of Office
Racioppo who would surely have bled to death without the aid of his two
good Samaritans; and

WHEREAS, Frank Recupero, through his spontaneous and heroic actions,
demonstrated his character and his compassion for the welfare of others,
personifying, by virtue of his actions, the collective concern of
ordinary citizens across the community of the State of New York who
voluntarily respond when others are in need of help; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend retired NYPD officer Frank Recupero upon the occasion of his

designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed
upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to retired NYPD officer Frank Recupero.