Honor Officers for Heroism

Senate Resolution No. 2172 BY: Senator KENNEDY COMMENDING Officers Colin Keenan and Majed Ottman upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor those distinguished officers 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 Officers Colin Keenan and Majed Ottman upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers; and WHEREAS, Buffalo, New York, Police Officers Majed Ottman and Colin Keenan had just started their shift on Friday, July 5, 2019, when they learned a year and a half old toddler had just been found floating face down in a backyard pool on Howlett Street in the Genesee-Moselle neighborhood; and WHEREAS, After dispatching themselves to the emergency call, the two officers arrived at the location to find a distraught man holding a lifeless little girl in his arms; Officer Majed Ottman immediately took the child from the man, laid her on the ground, and began chest compressions while Officer Colin Keenan questioned the toddler's mother, learning she had been in the water for as long as three minutes before she was found; and WHEREAS, As Officer Majed Ottman diligently continued to perform CPR, he noticed the child's belly was full of water, and subsequently, gave her one more big breath of air; as water gushed out of her mouth, he quickly turned her on her side and she started to breathe, then cry; and WHEREAS, Ever since they were young boys, Officers Ottman and Keenan have always wanted to be policemen; through their astute and heroic efforts, the little girl was saved from certain death; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those dedicated public servants who unselfishly devote their lives to the preservation of order and the protection of others are worthy and due full praise for their commitment and noble endeavors; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Officers Colin Keenan and Majed Ottman upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Officers Colin Keenan and Majed Ottman.