Assembly Resolution No. 784

BY: M. of A. Cook

HONORING Thomas Joy upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of a Lincoln-King Visionary
Award for his commitment and service to his
community

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve
the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Joy has given not only of his time and energies but
also of his competence, intelligence, and leadership, and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Thomas Joy
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Lincoln-King
Visionary Award for his commitment and service to his community, to be
celebrated at the Lincoln-King Visionary Awards Gala, "From Dream to
Greatness," on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the Sand Castle in
Franklin Square, New York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious community gala is held annually to unite
the international community and to celebrate unity in diversity while
recognizing community leaders for their services; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Joy was born and raised in Kerala, India, and
immigrated to the United States in 1996; he attended high school in
Orangeburg, New York, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1997, where he
has since served an impressive 27 years in active duty and the reserves;
and

WHEREAS, In June of 2007, Thomas Joy completed the Westchester
County Police Academy and served as a police officer in the City of
Mount Vernon Police Department until 2010; Officer Thomas Joy attended
the Suffolk County Police Academy in June of 2010; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Joy received his bachelor's degree from Mercy
College in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Following his graduation from the Suffolk County Police
Academy, Thomas Joy served as a police officer with the Suffolk County
Police Department, 1st Precinct, in Babylon, New York; he served the
Suffolk County Police Highway Patrol Bureau as a Highway Patrol Officer
from 2013 to 2018; Thomas Joy currently serves in the Community
Relations Bureau as a Recruitment Officer; and

WHEREAS, Determined to always continue learning, Officer Thomas Joy
has completed the Police Supervision course, Police Motorcycle Operator
course, Breath Analysis Operator course, the RADAR/LIDR course, Advanced
Roadside Impaired Driver Enforcement (ARIDE), Confidential Informant
Management course, Instructor Development course, Crisis Intervention
Team training, and other courses with the police department; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Joy has been called upon to contribute his time and
talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given
of himself unstintingly; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, Officer Thomas Joy became the founding member of
the Suffolk County Police Asian Jade Society which is a police fraternal
nonprofit organization that serves as a bridge between the police
department and the Asian American members of the community; the Society
encourages Asian Americans to consider a career in law enforcement and
the armed forces of the Unites States, while also celebrating Asian
languages, culture, heritage, and cuisine; and

WHEREAS, In true dedication to his community, Officer Thomas Joy
additionally founded the American Malayalee Law Enforcement United
(AMLEU) in 2020 and became its first president; the organization is a
national law enforcement charity organization with over 150 members from
over 40 agencies; the organization focuses on community outreach,
scholarships for college students and other philanthropic efforts; and

WHEREAS, Officer Thomas Joy is also the founding member of the law
enforcement fraternal organization Suffolk County Police LGBTQ Society
which was created in 2021 as a direct response to community needs and
requests; today, the organization serves as an outreach organization to
the LGBTQ community of Long Island, aids in recruitment efforts from
that community, and assists the community in problem solving and
connecting residents of the area to key government and law enforcement
leadership; and

WHEREAS, A testament to his character, Thomas Joy was appointed by
the Suffolk County Executive to serve as a board member in the Suffolk
County Asian American Advisory Board; the board advises the County
Executive on legislation, business development, and cultural
understanding as it pertains to the Asian American community; and

WHEREAS, Selflessly giving of his time and energy, Thomas Joy served
on the U.S. Service Academy Selection Committee of the 3rd Congressional
District, New York from 2020 to 2023; in this role, he screened,
processed, and mentored candidates who expressed an interest in
attending one of the five U.S. military academies; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Thomas Joy has stood constant in
dignity, good grace, and humor; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Thomas Joy has displayed
throughout his life; and

WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to
Thomas Joy, that future generations may know and appreciate his
admirable character, his many benevolent deeds, and the respect and
esteem in which he is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Thomas Joy upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a

Lincoln-King Visionary Award for his commitment and service to his
community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Thomas Joy.