PRINTER'S NO. 984
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
200
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY VEREB, D. COSTA, REED, MARSICO, REGAN, HACKETT,
CUTLER, BAKER, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BRIGGS, V. BROWN,
CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, COHEN, CORBIN, COX, DAVIS, DAY, DIAMOND,
DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, DRISCOLL, DUSH, FARINA, FARRY,
FREEMAN, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, GREINER, GRELL, HAHN, A. HARRIS,
HEFFLEY, HICKERNELL, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, KILLION,
KINSEY, KIRKLAND, KNOWLES, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MARSHALL,
McGINNIS, McNEILL, MENTZER, MILLARD, MURT, MUSTIO, O'BRIEN,
QUIGLEY, QUINN, READSHAW, REESE, ROSS, SACCONE, SCHREIBER,
SCHWEYER, SONNEY, STEPHENS, TAYLOR, THOMAS, TOBASH, TOEPEL,
WATSON, ZIMMERMAN, SAYLOR, METCALFE, GILLEN, JOZWIAK AND
MASSER, MARCH 24, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 24, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the memory of law enforcement officers who gave their
lives in the line of duty in this Commonwealth and
recognizing the memorial service in their honor at the Forum
Auditorium in the City of Harrisburg May 4, 2015.
WHEREAS, Detective Gerard W. Traynor, Corporal Bryon Keith
Dickson II, Trooper David Kedra and Police Officer Richard
Anthony Champion made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of
duty; and
WHEREAS, On June 21, 1987, Detective Gerard W. Traynor of the
Philadelphia Police Department passed away from a heart attack,
one day after valiantly assisting a fellow officer in regaining
control over a prisoner who was trying to escape; and
WHEREAS, On September 12, 2014, Corporal Bryon Keith Dickson
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II of the Pennsylvania State Police was tragically killed after
being ambushed and shot twice by an attacker at the Blooming
Grove Barracks in Pike County; and
WHEREAS, On September 30, 2014, Trooper David Kedra of the
Pennsylvania State Police was accidentally shot and killed while
participating in a training exercise at the Montgomery County
Public Safety Training Complex; and
WHEREAS, On December 14, 2014, Police Officer Richard Anthony
Champion of the Perryopolis Borough Police Department was
tragically killed while pursuing a vehicle when his patrol car
was hit by another vehicle and caught on fire; and
WHEREAS, Since the beginning of law enforcement within this
Commonwealth, numerous heroic law enforcement officers have made
the ultimate sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, A Venango County constable who died in April 1825 is
believed to be the first officer to have given his life in the
line of duty in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, "National Police Memorial Day" is held on May 15
each year; and
WHEREAS, The week containing May 15 is celebrated each year
as "National Police Week"; and
WHEREAS, On October 1, 1962, Joint Resolution 730 of the 87th
Congress of the United States was signed, authorizing the
President to proclaim May 15 of each year as "Peace Officers
Memorial Day"; and
WHEREAS, Twenty years passed before the first "National
Police Memorial Day" was recognized May 15, 1982; and
WHEREAS, May 15 has continued to be observed annually in
memory of those police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice
in the line of duty; and
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WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Lodge of the Fraternal Order
of Police presents the annual memorial service in this
Commonwealth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the
memories of Detective Gerard W. Traynor, Corporal Bryon Keith
Dickson II, Trooper David Kedra and Police Officer Richard
Anthony Champion who gave their lives in the line of duty in
this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
memorial service in their honor at the Forum Auditorium in the
City of Harrisburg May 4, 2015.
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