Senate Resolution No. 649

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMENDING Lieutenant Deborah Harris upon the
occasion of her retirement after 20 years of
dedicated service to the Oneida County Sheriff's
Office

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those distinguished officers 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, 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 Lieutenant
Deborah Harris upon the occasion of her retirement after 20 years of
dedicated service to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office; and

WHEREAS, Deborah Harris began her esteemed law enforcement career,
spanning two decades, as a Correction Officer in 2001; six years later,
she was promoted to Sergeant, and then in 2017, she was promoted to the
esteemed rank of Lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, Early on in her career, Lieutenant Deborah Harris excelled
in the area of inmate programs which included the county's high school
equivalency (G.E.D.) program which has been rated one of the best in the
state; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Deborah Harris also took great pride in teaching
the inmates various trades such as landscaping, horticulture, and
painting; under her able supervision, she and the inmates completed
various painting and beautification projects in area parks, ballfields,
cemeteries, and municipal buildings; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Lieutenant Deborah Harris enjoyed overseeing
and working with the inmates on several horticultural projects such as
the annual vegetable garden at the jail and tending to the landscaping
at the Sheriff's Office headquarters; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Deborah Harris led an inmate sewing program
which provided blankets to the homeless veterans and the area's domestic
violence shelters, and most recently, she and her team made and donated
hundreds of handmade facial masks for people to wear during the COVID-19
pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Lieutenant Deborah Harris truly
served the residents of Oneida County with compassion, integrity, and
fairness, attributes which will forever serve as an example for her
fellow officers; 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 Lieutenant Deborah Harris upon the occasion of her retirement
after 20 years of dedicated service to the Oneida County Sheriff's
Office, and to wish her well in all her future endeavors; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Lieutenant Deborah Harris.