LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena upon
the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Superintendent's
Commendation Award by the New York State Police on May 26, 2016

WHEREAS, The quality and sanctity of community life are cherished values
worthy of safeguarding, and this Legislative Body is moved to honor
those exemplary public servants who devote their lives to preserving and
protecting such values; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena upon the occasion of his designation
as a recipient of the Superintendent's Commendation Award by the New
York State Police to be celebrated at the 40th Annual Awards Day Ceremo-
ny on Thursday, May 26, 2016, at the University at Albany Performing
Arts Center, Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena has proudly served as a
member of the New York State Police since September 27, 1993; he
currently serves as a Senior Firearms Instructor at Troop B, and resides
in Plattsburgh, New York; and
WHEREAS, After the escape of two inmates, Richard Matt and David
Sweat, from Clinton Correctional Facility on June 6, 2015, Technical
Sergeant Ronald M. Pena was assigned to the manhunt; after reports of
shots fired in the area of State Route 30 in the town of Malone, New
York, he and his strike team swiftly responded to the site; and
WHEREAS, Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena located a small camper
where he observed footprints leaving the area, and detected the odor of
gunpowder in the air; he advised the United States Customs and Border
Protection Tactical Unit (BORTAC) of his assessment, and the team swift-
ly entered the woods south of the camper; and
WHEREAS, Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena was then told of a second
camper trailer south of his location which had reportedly been struck by
gunfire a short time earlier; he located the camper, and noted a shotgun
slug hole in its side, concluding that the trailer had recently been in
his previous location where he smelled the gunpowder; and
WHEREAS, Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena notified the Forward Oper-
ating Base and relayed this information to detail assets; he then
returned to his original location where he advised a second tactical
team of the presence of BORTAC in the woods to avert the potential for a
"Blue on Blue" incident; and
WHEREAS, He then deployed his strike team on the wood line north of
the BORTAC location; Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena was advised that
two distinct coughs were heard within the wooded area, and he immediate-
ly advised the tactical teams who located and engaged escapee inmate
Richard Matt, who was armed with a .20 gauge shotgun; and
WHEREAS, Richard Matt refused to drop the weapon, which necessitated
the BORTAC team to use deadly physical force to subdue him; Technical
Sergeant Ronald M. Pena then established a perimeter around the
escapee's body while the tactical assets swept the area for David Sweat;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to recognize the caring
concern and heroic acts of Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena who took
prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations, and in doing so,
help others to avert life-threatening danger; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those extraor-
dinary individuals who unselfishly devote their lives to the preserva-
tion of order and the protection of others are worthy and due full
praise for their commitment and noble endeavors; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena upon the occasion of his desig-
nation as recipient of the Superintendent's Commendation Award by the
New York State Police; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Technical Sergeant Ronald M. Pena.