Pennsylvania HR 561: A Resolution designating the month of October 2017 as "Down Syndrome Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3562
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 561
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY OTTEN, FRIEL, HOWARD, LAWRENCE, PIELLI, SAPPEY,
SHUSTERMAN, D. WILLIAMS, HOHENSTEIN, HAMM, FREEMAN, GUZMAN,
STENDER, VENKAT, MALAGARI, GUENST, HILL-EVANS, McNEILL,
PASHINSKI, ROAE, MARCELL, VITALI, T. DAVIS, BRIGGS, GIRAL,
SHAFFER, ISAACSON, MARKOSEK, O'MARA, HANBIDGE, WHITE, DEASY,
McCLINTON, SMITH, FRITZ, WAXMAN, FLICK, DOUGHERTY, MATZIE,
HADDOCK, FIEDLER, STAMBAUGH, BOROWSKI, O'NEAL, STAATS, FEE,
SCHWEYER, SCHLOSSBERG, B. MILLER, BIZZARRO, RUSNOCK, KAZEEM,
SCHLEGEL, KLUNK, HARKINS, KULIK, WEBSTER, WEAKNECHT,
M. MACKENZIE, LABS, MULLINS, MADDEN, BOYD, HEFFLEY, FLOOD,
MOUL, TAKAC, KINKEAD, REICHARD, DONAHUE, KOSIEROWSKI,
BRENNAN, BERNSTINE, DALEY, CIRESI, GLEIM, J. HARRIS, OWLETT,
RADER, RIVERA, BELLMON, MERSKI, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, WARNER,
PROBST, SCOTT, KUTZ, DAVANZO, SANCHEZ, STEELE, SALISBURY,
PICKETT, GILLEN, PROKOPIAK, KRUEGER, BENNINGHOFF, COOPER,
KAUFFMAN, FLEMING, NEILSON, GALLAGHER, DELOZIER, CURRY AND
MENTZER, JUNE 9, 2026
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 9, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and extending deepest condolences to the
family of Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Timothy J.
O'Connor, Jr.
WHEREAS, Corporal Timothy J. O'Connor, Jr., of East
Brandywine Township, Chester County, gave his life in the line
of duty on March 8, 2026, at 40 years of age; and
WHEREAS, Born in Chester on August 1, 1985, Corporal O'Connor
was the son of Timothy O'Connor, Sr., and Maureen Dawson
O'Connor; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor graduated in 2004 from Henderson
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High School in West Chester and then pursued his calling in law
enforcement, studying at the University of Pittsburgh before
proudly graduating from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy
with the 131st Cadet Class in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduation from the Pennsylvania State Police
Academy, Corporal O'Connor began his career as a patrol trooper
with Troop J, Avondale; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor joined the Troop J Criminal
Investigation Unit in 2016 and later served with the Troop J
Vice Unit; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor transferred to the Embreeville
Patrol Unit in March 2022, expressing a desire to help coach and
mentor new troopers, and was promoted to corporal in July 2022;
and
WHEREAS, Throughout his 15 years of service, Corporal
O'Connor received numerous accolades for his bravery and
dedication, including the Commissioner's Area Command
Significant Achievement Award and the Blooming Grove Service
Award; and
WHEREAS, His pivotal role during the Papal Visit Detail
earned him distinction in 2015, and his commitment to public
safety was further honored with the Chester County Manhunt
Service Award in 2023; and
WHEREAS, Governor Josh Shapiro ordered flags across
Pennsylvania to be flown at half-staff from March 10, 2026,
through the date of interment on March 18, 2026, to honor
Corporal O'Connor, the 105th member of the State police to give
his life in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor's commitment to serving his
community extended far beyond his calling in the State police,
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as he mentored youth as a Chester County Camp Cadet Counselor
and volunteered at the First West Chester Fire Company, where he
served as a Second Class Firefighter with the "Fightin' 51st"
from 2003 to 2012; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor was an avid Philadelphia sports
fan whose love for his teams was memorialized in the parting
words, "Go, Birds," of a touching eulogy delivered by his wife,
Casey, on March 18, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Above all, Corporal O'Connor was the devoted and
cherished husband of Casey O'Connor and a loving and beloved
father to their daughter, Kenzie; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor's family, colleagues and community
will remember him for his kindness, loyalty and compassion as
much as for his bravery, steadfast commitment to public safety
and dedication to the highest ideals of service and family; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor led by example and demonstrated
courage, professionalism and integrity in carrying out his
duties, earning the respect and gratitude of his colleagues and
the communities he served; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor dedicated his career to protecting
communities across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Corporal O'Connor is survived by his wife, Casey;
their daughter, Kenzie; his mother, Maureen; his father, Tim,
Sr.; his brother, Christopher O'Connor, and sister-in-law,
Brittany O'Connor; nephews Christopher O'Connor, Jr., and Riley
O'Connor; his sister, Morgan Cosgrove, and brother-in-law,
Steven Cosgrove; and his Nana Reggie Dawson; and
WHEREAS, His family's loss is shared by the entire
Pennsylvania State Police community and communities across
Chester County and this Commonwealth; therefore be it
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