[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 2 (Thursday, January 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E36-E37]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO SHERIFF COIS BYRD

                                 ______


                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, on December 14, 1994, Sheriff Cois Byrd 
officially retired as the sheriff of Riverside County, CA. His 
commitment to law enforcement and the professional manner in which he 
ran his department for 8 years after being elected Riverside's sheriff 
in November 1986 will be missed by all of us who have had the 
opportunity to work with him--and by all law-abiding citizens of the 
county.
  During his tenure as our sheriff, Cois Byrd epitomized what it means 
to be a professional in the increasingly complex field of law 
enforcement. Since first being hired as a deputy sheriff in 1959--after 
returning to Riverside from 3 years with the Fleet Marines/Pacific--
Cois Byrd worked hard to keep up with the latest techniques in fighting 
crime. During his tenure as sheriff, his department grew from some 
1,250 employees to more than 2,000 deputies and civilians operating out 
of more than 25 offices, stations, and detention facilities. By working 
cooperatively with the county's board of supervisors, Sheriff Byrd was 
able to develop a population-driven growth formula for patrol 
operations. This formula has helped increase the sheriff's staff/
population ratio so that the department can keep up with the growing 
demands for law enforcement in an increasingly urban environment.
  Cois Byrd has also made his mark in law enforcement at the State 
level. He was an active member of the California Sheriff's Association, 
serving as a member of the executive 
[[Page E37]] board and as the associate treasurer, and he served as the 
training committee chairman and as a member of the advisory committee 
for the California Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and 
Training.
  Locally, the sheriff was instrumental in guiding county policy for 
the development of the Southwest Justice Center, including a jail and 
sheriff's station. In September 1989, Sheriff Byrd officially opened 
the Robert Presley Detention Center, which was the first major 
correctional facility constructed in the county in 50 years. The 
project came in on time and under budget, demonstrating the tight-
fisted budgeting and fiscal conservatism that Cois Byrd always 
practiced as our sheriff.
  But, perhaps more important than his expertise at working with the 
board of supervisors, State law enforcement organizations, and other 
community groups, or even his superb management skills, what made Cois 
Byrd such an outstanding sheriff was his ability to motivate his 
deputies and other department staff. In spite of the rapid growth of 
the sheriff's department, Cois always made it a practice to personally 
meet each graduating class of deputies from every training academy--
and, he maintained a good, close working relationship with the civilian 
employees.
  While building one of the largest and most respected sheriff's 
departments in the Nation, Cois also found time to participate in 
numerous civic activities, including serving faithfully as a volunteer 
for the Boy Scouts and sponsoring an explorer program. While we will 
miss Cois as our sheriff, we are delighted that he will continue to 
provide his law enforcement expertise at the Crime Control Technology 
Center at the University of California, Riverside, school of 
engineering. And, we are especially grateful that he and his wife, 
Evelyn, will remain in our community.
  It is a great pleasure for me, on behalf of the citizens of 
California's 43d Congressional District, to congratulate and thank 
Sheriff Cois Byrd for many years of dedicated service to the Riverside 
County Sheriff's Department and to wish Cois and Evelyn continued good 
health and happiness, and much success in their new endeavors.


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