LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Commissioner Walter Koury upon the occa-
sion of his retirement after 12 years of distinguished service to the
Orange County Department of Emergency Services

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those individuals
whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to enhance the stat-
ure of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, For the past 12 years, Commissioner Walter Koury rendered
faithful, conscientious and valuable service to the Orange County
Department of Emergency Services, which was formed by the merger of four
emergency service agencies, E-911, the Office of Emergency Management
and the offices of the Fire Coordinator and Emergency Medical Services;
and
WHEREAS, This vital agency is comprised of approximately 120 employ-
ees, a division of Homeland Security and a part-time liaison to interact
with more than 30 police agencies in the county; and
WHEREAS, Walter Koury began his distinguished career as a public serv-
ant as a senior at Newburgh Free Academy in 1969, when he joined the
Winona Lake Fire Department in the Town of Newburgh, New York; he served
with the Department until 1982; and
WHEREAS, From 1974-2004, Walter Koury worked for the Town of New Wind-
sor Police Department, holding the esteemed rank of Chief of Police
during his last 20 years of service; and
WHEREAS, After leaving the Town of New Windsor Police Department in
2004, Walter Koury was appointed as Orange County's first Commissioner
of Emergency Services, a title from which he will officially retire on
June 30, 2016; and
WHEREAS, In this role, Walter Koury made numerous contributions to
Orange County's Department of Emergency Services; he was instrumental in
helping Orange County develop the state-of-the-art Emergency Services
Center in the Town of Goshen, which was opened in July of 2008; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Walter Koury worked closely with the County's
Public Safety and Emergency Services Legislative Committee to gain
approval for additional funding to provide public safety agencies with
Motorola mobile and portable radios which will be provided to at least
five Orange County departments and to 100 Police-Fire-EMS agencies in
the County; this innovative radio solution is scheduled to be opera-
tional in 2017; and
WHEREAS, In his capacity as Commissioner, Walter Koury served with
loyalty, honor and distinction; and
WHEREAS, In his official acts, Walter Koury was governed by a keen
sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure with the Orange County Department of Emer-
gency Services, Walter Koury earned the admiration, esteem and affection
of his colleagues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Commissioner Walter Koury upon the occasion of his retirement
after 12 years of distinguished service to the Orange County Department
of Emergency Services, and to wish him continued success in all his
future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Commissioner Walter Koury.