J 806: Commending Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate

 Senate Resolution No. 806 BY: Senator GALLIVAN COMMENDING Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor those distinguished officers and citizens who 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, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak, upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers; and WHEREAS, On the evening of Thursday, July 25, 2024, New York State Police Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak, of East Aurora, was off duty and driving his personal vehicle in the Town of Alden when he encountered a downed bicyclist; the victim was unconscious and lying in the southbound lane; and WHEREAS, Assessing the severity of the situation, Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak utilized his vehicle to block traffic in the southbound lane and approached the victim to determine the man's condition; and WHEREAS, The victim had no pulse; therefore, Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak commenced CPR; he immediately contacted 9-1-1 and continued chest compressions while relaying vital information through the speaker feature of his cellphone; and WHEREAS, While continuing to render aid, Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak also directed motorists to use their vehicles as a barricade of northbound traffic until emergency personnel from the Marilla Fire Department (MFD) arrived several minutes later; and WHEREAS, Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak informed the MFD responders of the care he provided to the victim and assisted them with the attachment of the automated external defibrillator (AED) to the patient; regaining his pulse and consciousness, the man was transported to South Buffalo Mercy Hospital for further care; and WHEREAS, Approximately one week after the incident, the victim required open-heart surgery to repair a 90% blockage; prior to the surgery, the man expressed his sincere appreciation to Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak for saving his life; and WHEREAS, Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak received a Letter of Commendation for his courage, calm demeanor, exemplary dedication, and unwavering commitment to public service; he was further commended for his exceptional diligence, resolve, and composure under pressure; this heroic Officer of Troop A of the New York State Police in Clarence exemplifies the highest traditions of the Department; and WHEREAS, The courage, compassion, and selflessness of Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak and those individuals who don uniforms and perform their civic duties without consideration for themselves should be recognized by all residents of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, A truly courageous man, Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak played a vital role in this extraordinary rescue effort and should be praised by the people of this great Empire State for his astute actions in attempting to preserve the lives of others; and WHEREAS, In his spontaneous and heroic act, Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak has so aptly demonstrated his character and compassion for others, personifying, by virtue of his actions, the collective concern of ordinary citizens across the community of New York State who voluntarily respond without thought of danger or reward when fellow constituents are in need of aid; 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 Gregory R. Jankowiak, upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Lieutenant Gregory R. Jankowiak.