LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Trooper John H. Szymkowiak upon the
occasion of his designation as the recipient of a Superintendent's
Commendation Award at the 34th Annual New York State Police Awards Day
Ceremony on May 20, 2010

WHEREAS, The quality and sanctity of community life are cherished
values, worthy of safeguarding; this Legislative Body is moved to honor
those who preserve and protect such values, lauding particularly their
unwavering courage and dedication in the daily performance of their
duties; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Trooper John H. Szymkowiak, of Troop A in Batavia, upon the occasion of
his designation as the recipient of a Superintendent's Commendation
Award; and
WHEREAS, A Trooper since April 7, 2003, he received the award in
recognition of his outstanding police work at the 34th Annual State
Police Awards Day Ceremony, held at the New York State Police Academy in
Albany on Thursday, May 20, 2010; and
WHEREAS, On June 18, 2009 at approximately 9:49 a.m., Genesee County
911 Dispatch reported an armed bank robbery in the Village of Elba,
Genesee County; a witness reported that three male subjects fled the
scene in a dark-colored SUV traveling south on State Route 98; while en
route from the SP Batavia barracks, Sergeant S/C Corey S. Harmon, SP
Batavia, observed the suspects' vehicle pass in the opposite direction
at a high rate of speed; he quickly initiated a pursuit of the vehicle
and alerted all responding patrols; the driver of the getaway vehicle
turned west onto Batavia-Elba Town Line Road and dropped two accomplices
off at the intersection of State Route 63 and Town Line Road; the driver
then continued southbound on State Route 63 and abandoned the vehicle in
a field a short distance later; and
WHEREAS, While en route to the scene from SP Batavia, Investigators
Andre R. Dunlap and Scott M. Mills, SP Batavia, were flagged down by a
witness at the intersection of State Route 63 and Town Line Road, who
stated that one of the subjects had run into a barn located on her prop-
erty on Town Line Road; a search of the barn by the investigators
located clothing, which possibly belonged to one of the suspects; the
investigators were joined by Troopers Frank C. Velletta, SP Batavia, and
John H. Szymkowiak, SP LeRoy, and footprints were subsequently located
outside the barn by Trooper Velletta; all four members followed the
footprints through a farm field and, in an attempt to get ahead of the
suspect, Investigator Dunlap and Trooper Szymkowiak ran ahead into the
wood line, subsequently locating one of the suspects, who was immediate-
ly taken into custody without incident; and
WHEREAS, A perimeter was established and an organized search detail
was initiated for the remaining suspects; the detail consisted of numer-
ous resources from several local, county, state, and federal agencies,
including the Batavia City Police Department, Genesee County Sheriff's
Department, Erie County Sheriff's Department, State Police (Troop T,
Troop A, and Division Headquarters), Park Police, EnCon, and the U.S.
Border Patrol; numerous State Police members participated in the search
detail, including Uniform and BCI members from Troops A and T and A VFW,
CNET Western, Gaming Unit, Division Aviation, K-9 detail members, and
SORT West; and
WHEREAS, The second suspect was located and apprehended within a short
timeframe by State Police and Genesee County Sheriff's personnel in the
area of the suspect vehicle; the third suspect remained at large in a

nearby wooded area for several hours; based upon information the suspect
provided to investigators, Investigator Richard V. Qualey, GIU/CNET
Western and Major Scott Ritchie, NYS Park Police -- Allegany Region,
were able to quickly ascertain the most probable location of the
suspect; they promptly located the suspect and took him into custody
without incident; and
WHEREAS, The investigation revealed that all of the suspects were
residents of Buffalo, New York and had targeted the small, rural bank
based on its geographical location; further investigation resulted in
the recovery of the stolen currency and the loaded weapon used in the
crime; all three suspects were turned over to the Genesee County Sher-
iff's Department which assumed primary responsibility for the case; and
WHEREAS, In keeping with the finest traditions of the New York State
Police, Trooper John H. Szymkowiak has distinguished himself by his
exemplary achievement and outstanding performance on behalf of the
community he so faithfully and courageously serves; and
WHEREAS, The dedicated efforts of public servants, such as Trooper
John H. Szymkowiak, who unselfishly devote their lives to the preserva-
tion of order and the protection of others are worthy of the full praise
of this Legislative Body and the people of the State of New York; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Trooper John H. Szymkowiak upon the occasion of his designation as
the recipient of a Superintendent's Commendation Award at the 34th Annu-
al New York State Police Awards Day Ceremony on May 20, 2010; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Trooper John H. Szymkowiak.