THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY NEUMAN, WHITE, READSHAW, AUMENT, BAKER, BARBIN, BARRAR, BISHOP, BOYD, B. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CHRISTIANA, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, COX, CUTLER, DALEY, DEASY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FREEMAN, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HARHART, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MATZIE, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MULLERY, MURPHY, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, RAVENSTAHL, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SABATINA, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, K. SMITH, S. H. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, TAYLOR, TOEPEL, TOOHIL, VEREB, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD, FRANKEL, DELOZIER AND DONATUCCI, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, FEBRUARY 15, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life of fallen Police Officer John David Dryer, who

died in the line of duty on December 19, 2011, in East

Washington Borough, Washington County.

WHEREAS, John David Dryer, 46, of Claysville, died December

19, 2011, as a result of a gunshot wound suffered in the line of

duty as a police officer for the East Washington Borough,

Washington County; and

WHEREAS, Born on February 5, 1965, in the western

Pennsylvania city of Washington, he grew up on the Avella farm

of his parents, JoAnn and John Dryer, and graduated from Avella

High School; and

WHEREAS, He earned undergraduate and doctor of veterinary

science degrees from Ohio State University and was employed as

an equine veterinarian throughout North America for Heinz Hitch

before returning to practice in Washington ten years ago; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Dryer owned and operated Chestnut Veterinary

Clinic in Washington, was a State Game Commission enforcement

officer and was certified in K-9 training and tracking with

bloodhounds; and

WHEREAS, Passionately interested in law enforcement and

emergency service, Dr. Dryer was a longtime member of the West

Middletown Volunteer Fire Department, where he held many

certifications, including smoke diver, emergency medical

technician and advanced car extraction; and

WHEREAS, He graduated from the police academy offered through

Indiana University of Pennsylvania at California University of

Pennsylvania, attending part time and maintaining his veterinary

practice; and

WHEREAS, He was a police officer for Donegal Township and for

Midway before joining the East Washington Borough Police

Department two years ago, all while continuing his veterinary

practice; and

WHEREAS, On the evening of December 19, 2011, Officer Dryer

observed a vehicle in East Washington Borough and initiated a

traffic stop on the highway; and

WHEREAS, Another officer arrived to assist, and shots were

fired by the driver of the stopped vehicle, hitting both

officers; and

WHEREAS, Officer Dryer died as a result of the assault; and

WHEREAS, The assailant was confronted and killed later that

evening by members of the State Police Special Emergency

Response Team after he fired at them and exited his house armed

with a gun; and

WHEREAS, Officer Dryer is survived by his son, Benjamin; his

parents, JoAnn and John Dryer; his brother, Donald; and his

sister, Elizabeth; and

WHEREAS, The courage and dedication of this brave police

officer and the professional veterinary services he provided to

the community in which he lived will long be gratefully

remembered; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life of

fallen Police Officer John David Dryer, who died in the line of

duty on December 19, 2011, in East Washington Borough,

Washington County.