New York J 1736: Commending nine members of the Glen Cove Fire Department upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the Firefighter of the Year Award for their heroic efforts in saving the lives of 12 individuals

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J01736 Summary:

BILL NOJ01736 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORMARTINS

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Go to top J01736 Actions:

BILL NOJ01736 

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03/12/2026REFERRED TO FINANCE

03/17/2026REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION

03/17/2026ADOPTED

Go to topJ01736 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ01736 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ01736 Text:

Senate Resolution No. 1736

BY: Senator MARTINS

 COMMENDING nine members of the Glen Cove Fire
 Department upon the occasion of their designation as
 recipients of the Firefighter of the Year Award for
 their heroic efforts in saving the lives of 12
 individuals

 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those distinguished firefighters and citizens who would devote
themselves to public service, demonstrating great courage and diligence
in providing for the care and welfare of the citizens of their
communities and this great Empire State; and

 WHEREAS, Within every community of the State of New York there are
certain individuals who, by virtue of their commitment and dedication,
command the respect and admiration of their community for their
exemplary contributions and service on behalf of others; and

 WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend nine
members of the Glen Cove Fire Department upon the occasion of their
designation as recipients of the Firefighter of the Year Award for their
heroic efforts in directly saving the lives of 12 individuals involved
in a building fire, who will be recognized at the Glen Cove Fire
Department's Annual Installation Dinner on Saturday, April 11, 2026; and

 WHEREAS, On Thursday, April 17, 2025, the Glen Cove Fire Department
received a call regarding a fire in a two-story building containing 10
apartments; Captain Philip Grella III, 1st Assistant Chief Justin Valeo,
2nd Assistant Chief Carlos Cardenas, 2nd Lieutenant Christian
Klimaszewski, Firefighter Rodni Leftwich Jr., Firefighter Henry
Maldonado, Firefighter Ian Jackson, Ex-Chief Patrick Peet, and Ex-Chief
Joseph Solomito of the Glen Cove Fire Department all reported to the
scene that day; and

 WHEREAS, Philip Grella III and Justin Valeo were the first to arrive
at the scene, and when Justin Valeo arrived he witnessed five occupants,
including a 6 year-old child, hanging out of a second-floor window with
heavy smoke above their heads; simultaneously, police officers reported
three additional individuals trapped at the rear of the building; and

 WHEREAS, Upon hearing the reports of individuals trapped inside the
building, the nine firefighters from the Glen Cove Fire Department
immediately understood the severity and complexity of the situation, and
each was determined to respond swiftly; and

 WHEREAS, Prior to the arrival of any fire apparatus and filled with
immense courage and bravery, Philip Grella III entered the burning
building with full personal protective equipment and a water can with
Glen Cove Police Officer Frank Vezza behind him; after using his water
can to clear a path into a second-floor apartment, he was able to reach
and evacuate three individuals; and

 WHEREAS, Due to the intensity of the fire, Philip Grella III and the
individuals he evacuated had to crawl through the building to avoid

smoke and flames; with merely a water can, Philip Grella III was able to
gain control of the situation and maintain a clear path for the
civilians he was saving; and

 WHEREAS, Justin Valeo and Rodni Leftwich Jr. quickly raised a
24-foot extension ladder to a window with trapped civilians while Henry
Maldonado spoke to the trapped family in Spanish, calming them down,
preventing them from jumping, and reassuring them that help was on the
way; and

 WHEREAS, When the ladder was prepared, Rodni Leftwich Jr.
immediately climbed through the smoke in full personal protective
equipment to grab the child hanging from the window; Justin Valeo then
climbed the ladder to assist the mother down and was followed by two
additional occupants who were able to escape on the ladder; and

 WHEREAS, After these initial rescues, Henry Maldonado and Carlos
Cardenas conducted searches through the heavy smoke on the first floor,
and they successfully located four additional occupants in two separate
apartments