Senate Resolution No. 689

BY: Senator LAVALLE

COMMENDING Officer Roger Kelber Jr. upon the
occasion of his retirement after more than 20 years
of dedicated service to the Suffolk County Police
Department

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those distinguished citizens who would devote themselves to public
service, demonstrating great courage and diligence in providing for the
care and welfare of the citizens of their communities and this great
Empire State; and

WHEREAS, The quality of life in these communities is largely
reflective of the commitment and dedication demonstrated by members of
the agencies which serve to protect, preserve and maintain public order;
and

WHEREAS, Within every community of the State of New York there are
certain individuals who, by virtue of their commitment and dedication,
command the respect and admiration of their community for their
exemplary contributions and service on behalf of others; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Officer
Roger Kelber Jr. upon the occasion of his retirement after more than 20
years of dedicated service to the Suffolk County Police Department, to
be celebrated at an event held in his honor on Sunday, March 24, 2019;
and

WHEREAS, After enlisting in the United States Navy in February of
1988, Roger Kelber Jr. proudly served his country as an Aviation
Administration/Aviation Warfare Specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class (E-5)
until May of 1992; from January of 1993-January of 1995, he was a member
of the Naval Reserves; and

WHEREAS, From 1988-1990, Petty Officer Roger Kelber Jr. was
stationed in Sigonella, Sicily, and from 1990-1992, he served in
Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Desert Calm aboard the U.S.S.
America assigned to Carrier Airborne Wing One with the VAW-123 (EZC
Hawkeye Squadron); and

WHEREAS, During this time, Petty Officer Roger Kelber Jr. became
both a Shellback and a Bluenose and traveled to Italy, England, France,
Turkey, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Thailand, Egypt, Abu-Dhabi, Dubai,
Bahrain, Kuwait, Panama, and Israel; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his military service, Roger Kelber
Jr. joined the Suffolk County Police Department in June of 1994, and
worked with the 5th Precinct until he transferred to the Highway Safety
Department in 2011, the position from which he officially retired on
January 26, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, Officer Roger Kelber Jr. was
responsible for approximately 1,500 arrests, 900 of which were DWIs; and

WHEREAS, Officer Roger Kelber Jr. was the recipient of numerous
awards and accolades for his exceptional police work including the 2012
N.Y.S. MADD Excellence Award and the 2016 Edwin Hernandez Award; five
times he received the Police Headquarters Award and was recognized for
successfully saving a choking victim in 2010; and

WHEREAS, Roger Kelber Jr. was selected Cop of the Year of 2013, and
for eight years, he was named a DWI Top Cop; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife of 18 years,
Marianne; two sons, Anthony and Matthew, two daughters, Jessica and
Amanda; one granddaughter, Aubrie; and one brother, Richard, all of whom
have shown him love and support and rejoice in his many achievements;
and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those
dedicated public servants who unselfishly devote their lives to the
preservation 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
commend Officer Roger Kelber Jr. upon the occasion of his retirement
after more than 20 years of dedicated service to the Suffolk County
Police Department, and to wish him well in all his future endeavors; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Officer Roger Kelber Jr.