THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WANSACZ, SCAVELLO, CARROLL, MAJOR, McCALL, BAKER, BARRAR, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROOKS, BROWN, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CASORIO, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, P. COSTA, COX, CUTLER, DALEY, DALLY, DeLUCA, DERMODY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, D. EVANS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FARRY, FLECK, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE, GERGELY, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HARHART, HARKINS, HARPER, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, JOSEPHS, KAUFFMAN, M. KELLER, KESSLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KRIEGER, KULA, LENTZ, LEVDANSKY, LONGIETTI, MAHER, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSHALL, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MENSCH, METCALFE, METZGAR, MILLARD, MILLER, MIRABITO, MOUL, MUNDY, MURPHY, MUSTIO, MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, PEIFER, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PRESTON, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REED, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SEIP, SIPTROTH, S. H. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, STEVENSON, SWANGER, J. TAYLOR, R. TAYLOR, TRUE, VEREB, WALKO, WATERS, WATSON, WHEATLEY, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, FRANKEL, MAHONEY, VULAKOVICH, TALLMAN, HICKERNELL, GILLESPIE, CAUSER, GROVE AND ADOLPH, OCTOBER 2, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 2, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and expressing profound sorrow upon the

passing of Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua D. Miller, who

lost his life in the line of duty on June 7, 2009, while

protecting the citizens of this Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua D. Miller was born

on June 12, 1974, in Pittston and graduated from Pittston Area

High School in 1992, where his teachers described him as not

only forthright, intelligent and kind, but also very spirited;

and

WHEREAS, Trooper Miller, who enlisted in the United States

Marine Corps in 1993, was the true embodiment of "Semper

Fidelis" according to fellow Marine and friend, Rochester, New

York Police Officer Brian Phillips; and

WHEREAS, Upon separation from active duty, having been

honorably discharged after attaining the rank of Corporal,

Trooper Miller worked at the Monroe County Prison while

attending Lackawanna Junior College to pursue his goal of

becoming a law enforcement officer; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, Trooper Miller completed his training and

joined the Tunkhannock Police Department, where he served until

2002; and

WHEREAS, After years of hard work, Trooper Miller realized

his dream of becoming a Pennsylvania State Trooper in 2002 and

was stationed in Bethlehem; and

WHEREAS, Following his transfer to Troop N, Trooper Miller

was selected as a member of an elite unit within the

Pennsylvania State Police that conducted an aggressive patrol in

Monroe County and was stationed in Swiftwater; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, Trooper Miller married the love of his

life, the former Angela Bowman, with whom he enjoyed hunting and

spending quality time with family; and

WHEREAS, Trooper Miller was the proud and beloved father of

three daughters, Justine, Breana and Joselyn; and

WHEREAS, On June 7, 2009, at approximately 7:45 p.m., Trooper

Miller, accompanied by fellow Pennsylvania State Trooper Robert

Lombardo, responded to a call regarding a man who had violated a

protection from abuse order and had kidnapped his young son at

gunpoint; and

WHEREAS, A 40-minute, high-speed chase ensued, starting in

Nazareth and ending in Coolbaugh Township when Troopers Miller

and Lombardo pinned the car holding the kidnapper and the child

into a guardrail; and

WHEREAS, Following procedure, Troopers Miller and Lombardo

rushed the driver of the car hoping to remove him from the

vehicle and save the child when the driver fired shots at them

at point-blank range, killing Trooper Miller and injuring

Trooper Lombardo; and

WHEREAS, Because of the brave actions of Troopers Miller and

Lombardo, the child was safely removed from the car by two other

officers; and

WHEREAS, According to Lt. Col. Lenny Bandy, Lieutenant of

Operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, Trooper Miller was

truly, "A hero who laid down his life instead of swerving from

duty"; and

WHEREAS, Trooper Miller, beloved husband of Angela, adoring

father of Justine, Breana and Joselyn, son of Peggy Hurysh and

the late Walter Miller, brother to Jeremy, Daniel, Joel and

Jacob Miller and Season Hurysh, was serving the people of this

great Commonwealth with the utmost honor, integrity and bravery

at the time of his tragic passing; and

WHEREAS, Upon the occasion of his funeral, held in Charlie

Trippi Stadium at Pittston Area High School to accommodate the

400 Pennsylvania State Troopers who attended, accompanied by

their brethren, troopers from 48 states, coming from as far away

as Alaska, fellow Pennsylvania State Trooper and friend Nicholas

Cortes described Trooper Miller as "An angel at my side who

would never leave a brother behind"; and

WHEREAS, Family, friends and all who knew Trooper Miller

deeply mourn the extinguishing of the star of his barracks and

remember his unconquerable spirit, courage, love and devotion;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life

and extend its most sincere and heartfelt condolences for the

supreme sacrifice of Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua D. Miller

who died in the line of duty on June 7, 2009, in Coolbaugh

Township; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives realize that

Trooper Miller left behind three precious daughters and

encourage those citizens of the Commonwealth who have been moved

by his family's loss to contribute to the Joshua Miller Memorial

Fund c/o P&G Federal Credit Union, 51 Warren Street,

Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania 18657; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be given to the

family of Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua D. Miller.