[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 48 (Thursday, April 28, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           IN HONOR OF LARRY DANNER: A TRUSTED PUBLIC SERVANT

                                 ______


                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 1994

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Capt. Larry Danner, who 
is retiring from the Police Department of the San Francisco Bay Area 
Rapid Transit District, or BART. Captain Danner, who lives in Fremont, 
CA, has been a police officer for 30 years. I just want to take a 
moment to share with my colleagues some of his many accomplishments and 
contributions to the citizens of the East Bay.
  Larry joined the Fremont Police Department in 1964 after being 
discharged from the Army. As a patrol officer, he spent a great deal of 
time in the Niles district of Fremont, earning the respect of the 
community, but making no friends among the city's criminal element. 
Officer Danner would walk the neighborhoods, stop and talk to shop 
owners and citizens, and offer assistance where he could. Without 
knowing it, he was practicing community policing, only then it wasn't a 
buzzword, it was a job description.
  After 8 years in Fremont, Larry was hired by the BART Police in 1972 
and was quickly promoted to sergeant. As a sergeant, he set up the 
traffic section of the department and helped change the rules to give 
BART officers more police authority, making the transit system safer.
  In 1976, Sergeant Danner became Lieutenant Danner and was assigned to 
the administrative bureau. Many of the basic operating rules in use in 
the department are Larry's handiwork. He started several safety and 
education programs, including Ride With Pride--transit etiquette and 
safety education aimed at grade school children, and Commute With 
Confidence, which promoted safety for adult riders. Larry was promoted 
to captain in 1981 and was placed in charge of department 
administrative functions, where he served 5 years before being assigned 
to the patrol bureau.
  As patrol bureau commander, Captain Danner made changes to cut down 
on travel time for officers as they reported for their shifts, improved 
the beat system, and established the honor guard, tactical team, and 
joint task forces with the Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco Police 
Departments. Larry never stops working to make BART a better and safer 
system, whether it's tackling long-range planning problems, improving 
parking lot and station security, or making it easier for his fellow 
officers to do their jobs efficiently and effectively.
  Larry Danner has a full plate, but after work his roots in Fremont 
bring out the best in him at home. He is an active veteran and is 
committed to community service. He has volunteered at a teen crisis 
center, with youth baseball leagues, and in local classrooms bringing 
teens responsible sex education. Larry and his wife Marie work with 
Shelter Against Violent Environments [SAVE] to provide secure shelter 
for battered women. He's an active Democrat and has been on the State 
Central Committee for 8 years, and was a guest here last year for 
inauguration.
  Capt. Larry Danner has a lot to be proud of: a loving family, a 
successful career in law enforcement, and a community he and his family 
have helped to build and enrich over the years. His colleagues, family, 
and friends are gathering for a special dinner on Friday, April 29, to 
recognize his service to BART and the people of the bay area. I want to 
join them in offering my congratulations and best wishes for a well-
deserved retirement. I'm sure, Mr. Speaker, that Fremont, which is a 
better place because of Larry Danner, hasn't seen the last of him.

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