BILL NUMBER: S9262
SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of
the state highway system as the "Senior Investigator Thomas M. O'Neill
Memorial Bridge"
 
PURPOSE:
Designates a portion of the state highway system the "Senior Investi-
gator Thomas M. O'Neill Memorial Bridge."
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the highway law by adding a new section 344-p desig-
nating a portion of the highway system constituting Crooked Hill Road
overpass crossing over the Sagtikos Parkway in the town of Islip, county
of Suffolk, as the "Senior Investigator Thomas M. O'Neill Memorial
Bridge.
Section 2: States that the commissioner of transportation shall provide
for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state
highway systems as designated pursuant to section 1 of this act. The
designation will be for ceremonial purposes only, and the official name
of the bridge will not be changed as a result of this act.
Section 3: Establishes the enacting clause.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Senior Investigator Thomas M. O'Neill, Shield 3763, was born on Dec.
11, 1948 in Bay Shore, NY. After graduating from Iona College, he joined
the New York State Parkway Police in 1972 and rose to the rank of
Sergeant. Sr. Inv. O'Neill became part of the New York State Police in
Troop L as a Technical Sergeant when the Parkway Police merged with the
New York State Troopers in 1980. He later became an Investigator and in
1990 rose to the rank of Senior Investigator in the Bureau of Criminal
Investigations.
Sr. Inv. O'Neill was married, an active member of Trinity Lutheran
Church and one of the original founders and Trustees of the Troopers
Memorial Fund. He succumbed to a heart attack at SP Brentwood on July
6th, 2005 shortly after a brief struggle with a subject upon arrest.
This legislation is to pay tribute to Senior Investigator Thomas M.
O'Neill's honorable and heroic service.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.