LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Yela of the Orange
County Sheriff's Department upon the occasion of his designation by the
New York State Sheriffs' Association as the Deputy of the Year

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay just
tribute to those singular individuals who devote their purposeful lives
to serving others, expressing its highest regard for their unwavering
dedication, courage and personal sacrifice in putting the safety and
welfare of others before their own; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to recognize and honor
Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Yela of the Orange County Sheriff's Department
upon the occasion of his designation by the New York State Sheriffs'
Association as the Deputy of the Year; and
WHEREAS, A resident of Montgomery, New York, Deputy Sheriff Yela is
the recipient of this statewide honor awarded annually to a Deputy Sher-
iff who has displayed outstanding courage and heroism in the line of
duty; Deputy Sheriff Yela has certainly done so; and
WHEREAS, The incident for which Deputy Sheriff Yela received this high
honor began in February of 2009 at G.W.'s Sports Grill in the Chester
Mall when a patron was kicked out of the bar and became enraged after-
wards; the angry patron then got into his silver SUV and sped toward the
bouncer and another man who were standing outside the bar; at some
point, the driver struck the bouncer, who suffered a broken leg; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Sheriff Yela, who was off-duty, identified himself as
a police officer several times as he tried to stop the driver; he then
pulled his gun and shot the rampaging driver, who died from his wounds;
and
WHEREAS, A 12-year veteran who handles drug and bomb sniffing dogs for
the department's K-9 unit, Deputy Sheriff Yela's intervention protected
the crowd in front of the bar from an unpredictable chain of events; and
WHEREAS, Having demonstrated his unconditional commitment to serve and
protect, Deputy Sheriff Yela has justly earned the admiration and
respect of his peers, the community and its citizens; this Legislative
Body is proud to now add its commendation, paying tribute to Deputy
Sheriff Yela for his courage, professionalism and commitment to his
community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Yela of the Orange County Sheriff's Depart-
ment upon the occasion of his designation by the New York State Sher-
iffs' Association as the Deputy of the Year, and to express its pride
and gratitude to him on behalf of the people of the State of New York;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Yela.