[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H5554-H5555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SAD NEWS FROM COLORADO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Colorado [Mr. McInnis] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, once again I stand in front of my 
colleagues of the great House of Representatives bringing sad news from 
the State of Colorado. On Friday, April 28, 1995, a mad killer drove 
into a local grocery store in South Jefferson County. As he drove into 
that grocery store, he walked, and got out of his car, walked into the 
grocery store, shot his wife dead, then shot the store manager dead, 
and then a police officer, the first officer responding to the scene, 
Sgt. Tim Mossbrucker, was shot before he even knew what hit him.

                              {time}  1830

  Sergeant Mossbrucker was a father, he was a husband, he was an 
officer strongly admired by his fellow officers in Jefferson County. He 
was a young father. He was a father of five children, with a sixth 
child on the way.
  Once again, a police officer has given his life in the line of duty, 
and, once again, as too often happens, his wife, Lynn, who in her own 
respects is a strong, wonderful woman, will be delivering their child 
without his presence.
  Once again we have children who will be raised through life without 
their father, because their father gave his life in the line of duty. 
Lynn, his wife, tucked 3-year-old Alex into bed that Friday night, 
saying, ``A bad person hurt daddy bad--so bad that he can't come 
home.''
  Lynn, his wife, will have to go through life maintaining the strength 
she has so far shown in life.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a poem that was presented at the 
service for this fine officer. First of all, for the officer, from 
mother to son.
                             Mother to Son

     God gave me a wonderful little pride and joy,
       a bouncing baby boy.
     And as he grew straight and tall,
       he was always ready to give it his all.
     A policeman he decided to be,
       as he studied life sitting on my knee.
     He exceeded far beyond expectation,
       honest and smart, care and loving.
     A little soul, entrusted to my care,
       always helpful, his goodness he would share.
     Growing straight and tall, a protector of life he became,
       until one Friday morning an angel came.
     Swift and graceful, taking him from me.
       No more ``Hi, Mom,'' or sweet smile I would see.
     A role model for his children had always been his fame,
       but in the calm, a hero for his community he became.
     Lovingly he left me, a strong young woman and the little 
           flock of six,
       all in all, a glorious mix.
     But that's not all, I am truly blessed you see,
       two more sons and a daughter gave to me.
     They grew, too, in much the same way,
       adding more to our family, making me proud every day.
     With a husband, daughters, sons, grandchildren, parents and 
           friends,
       now ``our little hand.''
     Steadfast and strong we make our stand.
     Timothy Michael was your name,
       it occurred to me long before you came into my life to 
           stay.
     I love you more than I can say.
     God bless and keep my little boy,
       my strong, straight and tall deputy son,
     For your hard fought battle has been won.
     Until some day when we meet again,
       fighting the good fight as best we can.
     Tim, guide us in God's great and wondrous plan.
       Love, Mom.

  The sergeant was a true professional, a true professional that was 
taken from us by a despicable killer. But we also had two other lives 
that were lost that day, and I should point out that 11 children as a 
result of this incident were left without a parent: Lynn, Matt, Erin, 
Annie, Alex, William, Moss, Iralee, Mark, David, and Mindy.
  Mr. Speaker, all too often we have to appear in front of this body 
and speak of an officer, a man or woman in blue, who has given their 
life for the rest of us.
  Mr. Speaker, I make these statements for the Record as a memorial and 
as a thank you from the United States of America, not only to the 
fallen officer, but to his strong wife and his wonderful children. I 
also include for the Record a tribute from Russ Cook, the Chief of 
Police of the Golden Police Department.

     To the Editor:
       Residents of South Jefferson County were shocked last week 
     when they were awakened by a tragic crime, usually thought to 
     occur in big cities. No one could have suspected that an 
     angry and enraged killer was about to walk into their local 
     grocery store and [[Page H5555]] gun down his wife, the store 
     manager, and wound an innocent, unsuspecting pregnant woman. 
     Sheriffs deputies were doing their job responding to the many 
     daily calls where violence is anticipated and usually 
     resolved by their skills and training. But Friday, April 28, 
     1995 was going to be different!
       Certainly, Sheriff's Sergeant Tim Mossbrucker didn't know 
     that when he turned into the parking lot of this sleepy 
     little suburban grocery store, he would be gunned down in 
     cold blood. I'm sure that other deputies responding did not 
     know that they would be confronted by gunfire that was going 
     to take the life of their colleague and friend.
       How they must feel. You can rest assured that how they feel 
     is how we all feel. What can be done about someone who has so 
     much rage and anger that he is willing to cut down members of 
     society by simply pulling a trigger?
       I know that the entire law enforcement community shares the 
     grief and sense of helplessness that must be felt by members 
     of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. I, too, share 
     the grief and despair that they are experiencing. Sadly, this 
     will not be the last law enforcement officer we will put to 
     rest; this is not the last time we will have innocent victims 
     taken from us over senseless violence.
       I would hope the next time you see someone who is willing 
     to put his/her life on the line for little pay and lousy 
     hours, you will tell them that you appreciate them and what 
     they do. It is quite possible that each time they put on a 
     uniform and start a tour of duty, it could be their last.
                                                        Russ Cook,
                        Chief of Police, Golden Police Department.
       May 2, 1995.
       

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