PRINTER'S NO. 2975
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
676
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY VEREB, D. COSTA, TURZAI, REED, MARSICO, ACOSTA,
BAKER, BENNINGHOFF, BIZZARRO, BOYLE, BRADFORD, V. BROWN,
CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, COHEN, CORBIN, COX, CUTLER, DAVIS, DAY,
DEASY, DELOZIER, DRISCOLL, DUSH, ELLIS, ENGLISH, EVERETT,
FARRY, FEE, FREEMAN, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GODSHALL, GOODMAN,
GREINER, HAHN, HARHART, A. HARRIS, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY,
HICKERNELL, PHILLIPS-HILL, IRVIN, JOZWIAK, KAUFFMAN,
M. K. KELLER, W. KELLER, KILLION, KINSEY, KIRKLAND,
LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MATZIE, McGINNIS, McNEILL,
MENTZER, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, NEILSON,
O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, OBERLANDER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PETRARCA,
PETRI, PICKETT, QUIGLEY, READSHAW, REGAN, ROSS, ROZZI,
SACCONE, SAINATO, SANTARSIERO, SAYLOR, SCHLOSSBERG,
SCHREIBER, SIMMONS, SONNEY, STAATS, STEPHENS, TAYLOR, THOMAS,
TOEPEL, TOOHIL, WARD, WATSON, WHEELAND, WHITE AND MAHONEY,
MARCH 17, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 17, 2016
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 2, 2016.
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary, Detective Paul John
Koropal, Sergeant Sheryl A. Pierce, Police Officer Lloyd Reed,
Jr., Patrolman John James Wilding and Police Officer Robert
Wilson III paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, On May 5, 2015, Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary of the
Ligonier Township Police Department, Westmoreland County, was
killed in an accident when his patrol vehicle was struck by a
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van driving the wrong way on a divided highway; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the fatality of Lieutenant Eslary,
his canine partner suffered serious injury and underwent surgery
and the two occupants of the van were critically injured; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Eslary had served the Ligonier Township
Police Department for 17 years; and
WHEREAS, On May 5, 2015, Detective Paul John Koropal of the
Allegheny County District Attorney's Office - Investigative
Division, suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in
serving multiple search warrants, as part of a Federal narcotics
task force in Fayette County; and
WHEREAS, Detective Koropal had served with the Allegheny
County District Attorney's Office for 18 years and was assigned
to the Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Task Force; and
WHEREAS, On September 14, 2013, Sergeant Sheryl A. Pierce of
the South Londonderry Township Police Department, Lebanon
County, died as a result of Hepatitis C, which she contracted in
1994 while subduing a man who was bleeding profusely; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Pierce had served with the South
Londonderry Township Police Department for 13 years; and
WHEREAS, On November 28, 2015, Police Officer Lloyd Reed,
Jr., of the St. Clair Township Police Department, Westmoreland
County, was shot and killed while responding to a domestic
disturbance call at a residence; and
WHEREAS, Despite being wounded by the suspect, Officer Reed
was able to return fire and wound the subject, who was later
arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police; and
WHEREAS, Officer Reed had served the St. Clair Township
Police Department for five years and had a total of 25 years'
experience as a law enforcement officer; and
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WHEREAS, On July 12, 2015, Patrolman John James Wilding of
the Scranton Police Department, Lackawanna County, succumbed to
a serious head injury sustained the previous night while
pursuing on foot three juveniles suspected of having stolen a
vehicle; and
WHEREAS, All three juveniles were arrested and charged as
adults with robbery, terroristic threats and recklessly
endangering another person; and
WHEREAS, Patrolman Wilding had served with the Scranton
Police Department for one year; and
WHEREAS, On March 5, 2015, Police Officer Robert Wilson III
of the Philadelphia Police Department was shot and killed in a
shoot-out when he and his partner interrupted a robbery by two
men at a video games store; and
WHEREAS, As he drew fire away from customers and employees,
Police Officer Wilson was fatally struck three times and, as the
suspects exited the store, they engaged in a shoot-out with his
partner before they were arrested and charged with Police
Officer Wilson's murder; and
WHEREAS, Police Officer Wilson had served with the
Philadelphia Police Department for eight years; 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 of the United States to proclaim May 15 of each year
as "Peace Officers Memorial Day"; and
WHEREAS, Twenty years passed before the first "National
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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
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 Lieutenant Eric A. Eslary, Detective Paul John
Koropal, Sergeant Sheryl A. Pierce, Police Officer Lloyd Reed,
Jr., Patrolman John James Wilding and Police Officer Robert
Wilson III, 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 2, 2016.
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