[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 23, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               LT. MARK DION, PORTLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I rise today to bring to the attention 
of my colleagues and to give recognition to an outstanding police 
officer in my home State of Maine.
  The national debate on crime and punishment too often focuses on the 
failures of law enforcement--those who successfully commit crimes and 
what the society should do about them.
  We do not spend enough time focused on the people who actually do the 
most for law enforcement: The people whose work helps prevent crimes, 
who take a proactive approach to the work of law enforcement and look 
for ways to resolve problems before they cause a breach of the law.
  The City of Portland in Maine is fortunate to have the services of 
one such man in its Police Department. Lt. Mark Dion of the Portland 
Police Department has received numerous awards for his work with the 
people of Portland, including being named an Officer of the Year by 
Parade magazine.
  Although Portland is a small city by national standards, Portland 
residents are facing an increased flow of immigrants into the 
community, a factor that can sometimes result in tensions and even 
violence.
  At present, Portland is home to at least 18 different ethnic and 
racial communities, as well as a vibrant gay community. It is not only 
our large cities which face the difficulties in education, community 
services and community peace that result from growing diversity.
  Lt. Mark Dion takes a community-oriented approach to eliminating the 
tensions that can too often lead to hate crimes. Lt. Dion's work has 
been focused on helping pave the way for each of the groups that make 
up the Portland community to find their place in our city and to take 
part in the life of the community.
  He views the police department as a service agency with a variety of 
goals, one of which is to work with the community to prevent crime.
  Police Departments traditionally react to violations of the law after 
the fact, but that means neighborhood peace has been disrupted, people 
have concrete reasons for being fearful and victims of crime have 
suffered actual harm. Preventing the disintegration of communities is 
at least as important as reacting to disintegration after the fact.
  Lt. Dion has created cultural awareness programs for refugees 
arriving in Portland and for the police officers who will deal with 
these communities.
  He has overseen the creation of a Citizen Task Force on Bias Crime to 
firmly establish a partnership between the community and the police.
  Lt. Dion's outstanding leadership has helped create a more tolerant 
and peaceful climate in Portland at a time when all sectors of the 
community are being asked to recognize and adjust to increased 
diversity. Most important, by working to preserve the sense of 
community Lt. Dion has also helped preserve one of the essential 
elements of the quality of life in Maine's smaller cities.
  Lt. Dion's philosophies and program have become models for other 
cities in Maine and New England.
  As Congress considers anti-crime legislation which will put 100,000 
new police officers on the streets, it is important to recognize that 
community-policing efforts have been tried and have proven tremendously 
successful. Lt. Mark Dion and the Portland Police Department are an 
example. I commend Lt. Dion for his efforts and his leadership.

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