Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed legislation to rename of a portion of Route 481 in honor of Onondaga County Sheriff Deputy Glenn Searles.
According to the Aug. 13 press release from the governor’s office, a portion of Route 481 between exits 5 and 6 in DeWitt will be renamed the “Deputy Sheriff Glenn Searles Memorial Bridge.”
In November 2003, Searles was killed after he was struck by a car while helping a stranded motorist on Route 481 during a snowstorm. He was 31 years old at the time and survived by his fiancée.
Searles was one of three officers who were included in the legislation signed by Cuomo. The remaining two are Officer Arthur Lopez of the Nassau County Police Department, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2012, and State Trooper Christopher G. Skinner, who was intentionally struck on Interstate 81 near the town of Chenango in 2014.
“These exceptional law enforcement professionals paid the ultimate price while working to protect their neighbors and their communities,” Cuomo said in the press release. “This legislation memorializes their service and will ensure their sacrifice and commitment will always be remembered.”
Searles was additionally honored at a “Badge of Honor Ceremony” on June 19 at the DeWitt Town Hall, along with fellow fallen Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy David Clark.
In 2011, the “Ambrose-Searles Move Over Act” was signed into New York State law, which required better driving safety awareness on highways, and was named in part after Searles and another fallen officer, Robert W. Ambrose, said Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway at the June ceremony.
An “End of Watch” sign was presented at this ceremony and will be placed in this portion of Route 481 to commemorate the service of Searles.
“Deputy Searles devoted his career and his life to keeping the citizens of Onondaga County safe from harm. Unfortunately, these selfless actions ultimately led to his passing. We are forever grateful for his devotion to public safety. This bridge will serve as a daily reminder of his bravery and heroism and ensure his service to our community will not be forgotten,” said Stirpe.
“Deputy Sheriff Searles lost his life while simply trying to help a citizen in distress,” said Senator David Valesky. “By designating a portion of I-481 as the ‘Deputy Sheriff Glenn Searles Memorial Bridge,’ his life of public service will be honored and remembered in a public way.”
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
