On Laughter-Silvered Wings
Deputy Joseph William Jankowsky, "Janks" 1939 - 1984
While Joe was not killed on the job, he did die while earning a living, along with Co-pilot and passenger while working for an on-demand air taxi. Except for a brief time that he worked for the racing division of Castrol Oil Company in the early 1960's, his entire professional career was in community service. (His stint with Castrol was with Dan Gurney during the development of the Eagle in F1 Grand Prix.) Whether he was a prison guard at Newark Maximum Security, with the State of New Jersey as a motor Vehicle Inspector, a Patrolman with Metuchen and Piscataway Police Departments, or a Deputy with Onondaga County Sheriff's Office - Joe was on board and on the job. He held positions as a traffic investigator, 911 dispatcher and supervisor and Patrol Deputy, as well as involved with Special Enforcement Unit / Aviation; first as an Observer and then as a Pilot. He worked closely with other units in SEU; Underwater Search and Recovery, Snowmobile Patrol, SWAT, Narcotics and K-9 during his work as a Sheriff's Deputy, and was a dedicated officer, family man and friend. His career over two decades was cut short, but he gave it all he had, 24/7. He was a "Cop's Cop". Joe also loved his part time career in the New York Air National Guard, performing continued service as an air controller for the 108th Tactical Control Flight working with the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron, co-located at Hancock Field. He was part of an outstanding team of men and women and one of the "Boys From Syracuse". He was the NCOIC of Operations on base with the NYANG 108th, a radar operator and involved in disaster preparedness for the group. He absolutely loved his duties with the Air Guard. Anyone privileged enough to have met this cadre of guardsmen and women would realize at once why he was so devoted to them as a team, and as individuals. When they said, "Sleep well tonight, the NYANG is on guard", you could do just that - aces all!
I'd like to express a special thanks to all those people within the Law Enforcement Community who have been a positive influence and role models in my life. Especially, to all the Troopers, Officers and Deputies in the New Jersey State Police, Metuchen Police Department, Piscataway Township Police Department, Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, The New York State Police, the Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County Park Ranger Force, and to all members of all agencies and PD's within the Greater Central New York area. Also, to all of the extraordinary men and women of the United States Air Force and the New York Air National Guard - salute. Thanks for being the role models that you have been, for myself and for all others; that to accept all challenges in overcoming adversity is the standard of your day, and to Never Give Up. Did you ever know that you were my heroes? You were. You are. You always will be...
- Dave "Janko" Jankowsky -
COMMITTMENT
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." - Johann Wolfgang Goethe -
"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harm." - George Orwell -
Photo credit to Deputy Gary Rudiger, Onondaga County Sheriff's Dept.
 Onondaga County Sheriff's Office |
| National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial |
| 'If', by Rudyard Kipling |
| United Warrior Survivor Foundation |
| 'High Flight', by John Gillespie Magee Jr. |
| Officer Down |
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