What's happening
This bill designates the White Plains Avenue Bridge in Harrison, NY as the "NYPD Det. TSgt. Joseph G. Lemm Memorial Bridge" ceremonially.
Why it matters
Honors a Fallen Hero. The bill pays tribute to NYPD Detective and Air Force Technical Sergeant Joseph G. Lemm, who was killed in action, by naming a prominent bridge after him. This serves as a lasting public recognition of his service and sacrifice, both as a police officer and a member of the armed forces.
Community Identity and Memory. Ceremonial naming of infrastructure helps foster a sense of community identity and remembrance, especially for residents of Harrison and Westchester County who may have personal or local connections to Lemm or to law enforcement and military service more broadly.
No Impact on Navigation or Addresses. Since the designation is ceremonial and does not replace the bridge’s official name, there will be no changes to maps, mailing addresses, or GPS navigation, minimizing potential confusion for local residents, businesses, and emergency services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Name Bridge After Lemm
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.173
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.364
- Substituted for A6332A
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Amended on third reading (t) 4588a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 2 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.409
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Name Bridge for Fallen Officer
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4588--A Cal. No. 409
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to designating portion of the state highway system as "NYPD Det. TSgt. Joseph G. Lemm Memorial Bridge"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 344-i to read as follows:
§ 344-i. Portion of state highway system to be designated as "NYPD Det. TSgt. Joseph G. Lemm Memorial Bridge". The bridge crossing over interstate route two hundred eighty-seven, intersecting with Westchester Avenue in the town of Harrison, county of Westchester, currently known as the white plains avenue bridge, shall be designated and known as "NYPD Det. TSgt. Joseph G. Lemm Memorial Bridge".
§ 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system as designated pursuant to section one of this act. However, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the designation called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such bridge shall not be changed as a result of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07870-07-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to desig- nating portion of the state highway system as "NYPD Det. TSgt. Joseph G. Lemm Memorial Bridge"
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill honors and memorializes, by naming a bridge near his home in West Harrison after him, NYPD Det./TSgt. Joseph G. Lemm, who died serv- ing his country in Afghanistan.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill designates a bridge on Interstate 287 as "NYPD Det./TSgt. Joseph G. Lemm Memorial Bridge".
Section 2 provides language concerning the NYS Department of Transporta- tion installation of signage.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
Justification
Joseph G. Lemm was a 15-year NYPD veteran and Technical Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force after having been activated from the Air Force Reserves and New York Air National Guard. He was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in 2015 when his convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber before Christmas. NYPD Det./TSgt Lemm was serving his third tour of duty overseas, two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. He also worked tirelessly as a first responder during 9/11.
Everyone knew him as "Superman," not because of his size, but for how big his heart was. He never said 'no' when someone asked him for help. NYPD Det./TSgt Joseph G. Lem was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for valor by his commanding officers for putting himself in front of the bomber to protect his comrades.
This bridge dedication will commemorate his sacrifice and the strong civic bond that he had for his hometown in West Harrison, New York and his country.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.