Timothy Pratt honored at Capitol

Lawmakers, family honor fallen state trooper six months after killed in line of duty

State Trooper Timothy Pratt was remembered and honored at the Capitol Wednesday, six months to the day after was struck and killed while assisting a motorist.

Pratt was a peace-keeper, a pillar of his community and “faithful, honorable, devoted public servant,” State Sen. Kathy Marchione (R-Halfmoon) said in remarks on the Senate floor as Pratt’s family sat listening. “A loving grandfather, father, brother, humble son, fiancé, friend and role model whomade the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty serving the residents of New York.”

“Trooper Pratt is true hero among heroes,” she said. “New York state mourns the loss of this great man, this devoted public servant, one of New York’s finest.”

Sen. Patrick Gallivan (R-Erie County) told Pratt’s family members he was a retired state trooper and his brother serving in the State Police knew Tim Pratt. Gallivan said he called State Police Superintendent George Beach after Pratt died.

Beach said Pratt “was out there grinding it -- grinding it out every day, still doing it after 29 years,” Gallivan said. “And in the superintendent’s words, one of the good guys. Very simple words, but I can’t think of a better complement and truly from what I have learned about Trooper Pratt, so well deserved.”

“We often hear the term that someone will say, that person was larger than life,” said Sen. Betty Little (R-Clinton County). “Trooper Tim Pratt was larger than life. He made a significant difference (in the lives of) everyone around him.”

“He was one person who just spent most of his time helping other people and actually died helping someone -- a truck driver who was lost,” she said. She said in tribute to Pratt, students at his old high school raised nearly $1 million in his memory at their annual charity dance marathon.

Pratt, 55, was killed early in the morning of October 26, 2016 in an accident in front of the State Police Troop G barracks in Wilton, Saratoga County. He had just begun his shift and was assisting a lost truck driver who had pulled over. Pratt was struck by a passing vehicle.

He was assigned to the Traffic Incident Management de-

tail and was a member of the State Police Motorcycle Unit, leading the 9/11 Memorial Motorcycle Ride from Albany to New York City.

After Pratt was honored with the memorial- izing resolution, the Senate passed a bill designing a turnaround on I-87 near Saratoga Springs as the “New York State Trooper Timothy Pratt Turnaround.”

Pratt was a 1979 graduate of South Glens Falls High School, an Air Force veteran and a member of the State Police since 1987.

NYSNYS NEWS PHOTO The family of Trooper Timothy Pratt sits in the Senate Chamber Wednesday, April 26, 2017, as he is memorialized by state legislators. Sen. Betty Little is standing at right.