Resolution 170259

..Title Recognizing and Commending Patrick Blessington for his distinguished service to the City of Philadelphia as a Prosecutor in the Office of the District Attorney. ..Body WHEREAS, Patrick "Pat" Blessington graduated from Villanova Law School, practiced briefly as an associate in civil practice, and then in 1986 began a successful first tenure in the Philadelphia District Attorney's office. He served in the Homicide Unit and eventually became Chief of the Juvenile Unit; and WHEREAS, Pat Blessington served in the Philadelphia District Attorney's office until 1997, when he joined the Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth. His stock as a successful prosecutor continued to rise; and WHEREAS, Pat Blessington continued his success as a prosecutor at the state level, becoming Senior Deputy Attorney General of the Commonwealth. Among many successes, he prosecuted three death penalty murder convictions in three separate counties and developed a case involving three brothers running a multi-million dollar theft ring; and WHEREAS, Pat Blessington developed a strong reputation for his prosecution skills in long-term corruption investigations. While in the Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth, Blessington prosecuted corrupt elected and appointed officials as well as political operatives; and WHEREAS, Patrick Blessington was hired as the Chief of Special Investigations by Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams in 2011 to form and lead a new Corruption Prosecution Task Force to target government and City corruption; and WHEREAS, Despite his impressive credentials and reputation, Pat Blessington was wrongfully accused of participating in a scandal which plagued the Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, Accusations against Pat Blessington playing an active role in the scandal were proven false, and he remains a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney's office; and WHEREAS, Throughout the course of his career, Pat Blessington has worked hard and faithfully pursued justice, promoted strong character, and fought corruption. The City of Philadelphia is proud of his accomplishments and expresses full confidence in his abilities as a prosecutor and a public servant; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and commends Patrick Blessington for his distinguished service to the City of Philadelphia as a prosecutor in the Office of the District Attorney. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Patrick Blessington as evidence of the gratitude of this legislative body. ..End