[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  TRIBUTE TO OFFICER DENNIS N. GLIVAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Fingerhut] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FINGERHUT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and invite the Members of 
the House of Representatives and all people across our country to join 
with me and the people of the 19th District of Ohio in honoring and 
paying tribute to the memory of Police Sergeant Dennis N. Glivar of 
Garfield Heights, OH who was killed in the line of duty August 14, 
1994. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to pay tribute to a civilian who 
was killed in this awful incident, John Bryant.
  In the House of Representatives we are in the midst of a debate about 
how best to stop crime. While each Member of this body may have a 
different solution, all of us unite behind the brave men and women who 
put their lives on the line every day to protect their fellow citizens. 
Our police forces are the first line of defense against criminals who 
commit heinous acts of violence.
  This past Sunday, Sergeant Glivar was fatally shot during a six-hour 
standoff with a gunman who was holed up in his apartment after shooting 
and killing John Bryant. Glivar and his fellow police officer, Lt. 
Thomas Kaiser, approached the home of the gunman in the hopes of 
peacefully disarming him. They knocked and ordered the gunman to open 
the door. The gunman fired several shots, killing Sergeant Glivar and 
injuring two other officers--Sergeant Thomas Kaiser and Patrolman John 
Mackey.
  Sergeant Glivar, who was 44, jointed the Garfield Heights Police 
Department in September 1972. He was promoted to sergeant in 1990 and 
was a supervisor for basic patrol. He was a life-long member of the 
community, graduating from Garfield Heights High School in 1972. He 
attended Cuyahoga Community College and John Carroll University. He 
also served in the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserves.

  Sergeant Glivar married his wife Debbie in 1983. They had celebrated 
their 11th anniversary the day before Sergeant Glivar was killed. 
Glivar always went home for lunch; he was devoted to his wife and 
family. He is also survived by his mother Helen Glivar, and his sister, 
Cheryl Janoviak.
  Sergeant Glivar loved playing the drums and once played in a band 
with his late father. He was an avid scuba diver, an amateur 
meteorologist and had earned a black belt in karate.
  Mr. Speaker, this tragic incident began with the shooting of a 
civilian, John Bryant, who was murdered in cold blood by the same 
killer who murdered Sergeant Glivar. Mr. Bryant was a 28-year-old man 
with his life in front of him. He and his girlfriend were walking home 
from the supermarket when the gunman emerged from a nearby apartment 
building. The gunman stopped about 10 feet from the couple, uttered a 
racial slur, and then shot Mr. Bryant in the chest. We cannot find 
words to express our grief and sorrow at this senseless death.
  It is particularly shocking that John Bryant was singled out by this 
madman because of his race. Mr. Speaker, we know we cannot banish 
hatred from the hearts of angry men, but surely incidents like this 
should cause a us to redouble our efforts to fight racism of all kinds.
  Mr. Speaker, the deaths of Sergeant Dennis Glivar and Mr. John Bryant 
remind us of our duty to both police officers and civilians in our 
community. Sergeant Glivar was willing to give everything, including 
his life, in the line of duty to protect his community. His family, all 
of Garfield Heights and our community have suffered an enormous loss.
  Mr. Bryant's girlfriend, his family and friends, along with Garfield 
Heights and the entire community have likewise suffered because of Mr. 
Bryant's death. We mourn with both sets of families and friends.
  We can only hope that these senseless acts of violence will teach us 
all that we must do everything in our power to prevent the killing that 
we have witnessed in the last few days. We pray with the families of 
these victims that they will find peace everlasting and that we will 
work for peace in our own communities on earth.

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