| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE10-47 May 11, 2010 CONTACT: Farrell Sklerov (718) 595-6600 Statement of NYC Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway on the Addition of Lieutenant John J. Quinlan to the State of New York Police Officers Memorial in Albany and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C."Lieutenant John J. Quinlan was a 16-year veteran of the Board of Water Supply Police when he tragically died while on night patrol on October 2, 1953. He is the first officer responsible for protecting New York City's water supply to ever be honored with inclusion in the State of New York Police Officers Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Lieutenant Quinlan had a distinguished career and displayed a strong dedication to his fellow officers. Joining as a patrolman in 1937, he quickly moved up the ranks until he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1941. His patrol duties followed the rapid expansion of the City's water supply at the time, stretching from Yonkers all the way to Neversink and Grahamsville. During his tenure, he responded to threats of trespassing and sabotage; investigated worker fatalities at critical water infrastructure construction projects; and trained new recruits. He even once responded to a fellow officer involved in a serious motorcycle accident and provided an emergency blood transfusion to aid in his recovery. His contribution was not limited to his work protecting New York City's watersheds. During World War II, he took time away from the Board of Water Supply to serve his country as a U.S. Navy Specialist Second Class for 18 months. Today, Lieutenant Quinlan is officially memorialized among the ranks of those who made the greatest sacrifice. He will forever be remembered as someone who displayed all of the qualities that are valued in a uniformed police officer. Including him on both of these memorials is a fitting tribute to his family and all of the hardworking DEP Police who are on the front lines every day. We are honored to call him one of our own." The Board of Water Supply Police was renamed the Department of Environmental Protection Police in the early 1980s. The current police force has 189 sworn members who patrol roughly 2,000 square miles of watershed land in nine counties on both sides of the Hudson River. DEP manages the City's water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8 million in New York City, and residents of Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties. Approximately 1,000 DEP employees live and work in the watershed communities as scientists, engineers, surveyors, administrative professionals, and other professions. Related Links | |