Ralph M. Purdy President Emeritus    In 1956, Ralph Purdy began his illustrious law enforcement career as a security guard with the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs. His military experience in the United States Army while attaining the rank of Sergeant, also included an honorable discharge after serving active and reserve duty for a total of 8 years 4 months 27 days. He was also a PUFL member of the American Legion Post 506 Ossining, New York, transferring from the former American Legion Post 1261, Schoharie, New York

   In 1958, he was appointed a Correction Officer with the State of New York Department of Correction. On April 25, 1960, Officer Ralph M. Purdy was appointed a police officer with the Town of Greenburgh, NY and in 1967 he was named "Police Officer of the Year" by the Hartsdale Exchange Club. He was later promoted to Detective, then to Detective Sergeant and also passed the Lieutenants exam. Ralph also served as the President of the Greenburgh Police Association for ten (10)) years, as well as the Westchester County Police Conference, Inc., and the Tri-County Federation of Police, Inc.

   As a union leader, Ralph Purdy along with Police Officers Dan Braccio and John Henry conducted peaceful demonstrations in the City of White Plains to develop the first Police Academy for Zone #3. He also worked with the County Executive Edwin Michaelian to build the police academy facility on the Grasslands Reservation. There has been over 142 graduations to date and Ralph Purdy attended approximately 100 of them.

   In 1967, Ralph Purdy and the Greenburgh Police Association Attorney Grant Reynolds drafted the initial Binding Arbitration bill that was adopted by the Police Conference of New York and passed into law by the New York State Legislature. The Public Employees Fair Employment Act (the Taylor Law) is a New York State statute, named after labor researcher George W. Taylor. It authorizes a governor-appointed State Public Employment Relations Board to resolve contract disputes for public employees while curtailing their right to strike. Moreover, 2017 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the The Public Employees Fair Employment Act, commonly known as "The Taylor Law" is a New York State statute and the law in many other states throughout the country.

   Ralph Purdy negotiated the first police contract in the state of New York under the Taylor Law. This contract was settled with the Town of Greenburgh as a result of mediation along with Town Supervisor Edward Vetrano and New York State Mediator Milton Friedman. He was also the first police officer elected to the Greenburg Central 7 School District, Hartsdale, NY.

   As First Vice President of the Police Conference of New York, Inc., (65,000 members) and along with PCNY President Al Sgaglione, Ralph Purdy successfully lobbied for passage of numerous pieces of legislation for police officers in the State of New York. Together, under their leadership, the PCNY successfully lobbied for the Twenty Year Retirement Pension Plan for Police Officers, the 207C Line of Duty Injury Bill for Police Officers, the Final Average Salary For Retirement, as well as the Heart Bill and many other pieces of law enforcement legislation.

   Ralph Purdy was also one of the original co-authors of the By Laws for the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), AFL-CIO and a member of the International Conference of Police Associations, AFL-CIO and a member of the International Conference of Police Associations, Inc., the fore¬runner of the IUPA. He would also serve as President of the United Federation of Special Police Officers & Security Officers, Inc., as well as International President of the United Federation of Police Officers, Inc., (UFPO).

   As President of the United Federation of Police Officers, Inc., Ralph Purdy donated the first $5,000 to Congressman Mario Biaggi, the Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). Congressman Mario Biaggi was the original sponsor of the bill which introduced legislation in order to recognize those who gave the supreme sacrifice in the performance of their duties by building this national memorial in Washington, D.C. This would serve as a reminder of the federal legislation signed into law by President John F. Kennedy that May 15th shall be hollow ground permanent reminder to those killed in the line of duty. Whereas, by a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962 (76 Stat. 676), the Congress has requested the President to designate May 15 of each year as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week during which such May 15 occurs as Police Week:

   In July 2010, Ralph M. Purdy received membership from the International Police Federation EU, based at Police Headquarters E.F. in Brussels and is a fellow partner of the Federation of Police based in New York.

   Ralph Purdy has served on many committees throughout his career, including the Red Cross, Guiding Light for the Blind, Food Patch, and the United Way to name a few. He is a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Westchester County, Westchester County Police Emerald Society and Westchester County Police Columbia Association. He is the recipient of many awards and honors which many are displayed on the wall of his office in Briarcliff Manor, New York. Most recently, a plaque from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund & Museum, for his 25 years of dedicated service, dated May 2016.

   Ralph Purdy's humble beginnings began as a middle class person who grew up on the waterfront in Ossining, New York. His commitment to his profession, the labor movement, and his country have allowed him to attended the Inaugurations of five (5) Presidents of the United States of America with his devoted and loving family. Ralph Purdy also attended the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House as a special guest of Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States of America.

   However, his biggest disappointment of his law enforcement career came when he was chastised and disciplined for ultimately challenging the rights of police officers as elected union officials to endorse or oppose political candidates for office. The case went through several fazes of our judicial system winning and losing on several levels.

   Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall granted a writ of certiori for the AFL/CIO to take the case on behalf of Ralph Purdy to the Highest Court in our land and as luck would have it the Petition was filed too late by the AFL/CIO legal division. The court on Thanksgiving eve closed at 3:00 pm and they filed the case at 4:30 pm which was too late the court had closed for the holiday. Years later the law was changed and at the age of 68, Ralph M. Purdy won a financial settlement in federal court and eventually received his retirement and a pension.

   Ralph Purdy has two very important motto's he has lived during his entire career in law enforcement. The first being what he was instructed by Senator John E. Flynn, "It's always nice to be important; but it is more important to be nice!" The second was, "As a police officer, always treat everyone - the way you wished to be treated!"

   In closing, Ralph M. Purdy has lived an exemplary life of service and commitment, but none of this would have been possible without the fulfillment of his family and the love they bestowed upon him. They include, his two sisters Pearl Mastrantone (deceased 9/14/2016) and her four children and eight grandchildren, Maureen Mekeel and her two children and her four grandchildren. His lovely wife Karen, and his two grown daughters and his five beautiful grandchildren. Or as Ralph so eloquently stated, "With all of life's ups and downs; Life has been very good to me and my family!"