[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 139 (Friday, September 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         TRIBUTE TO OFFICER JOSEPH ALU AND DETECTIVE JIM O'HARA

                                 ______


                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 8, 1995
  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to two outstanding 
police officers, Officer Joseph Alu and Detective Jim O'Hara, whose 
heroism and sacrifice demonstrates a commitment far beyond the call of 
duty.
  On July 25, Detective O'Hara and Officer Alu responded to a call that 
a man had taken two teen-age girls hostage. The officers, responding to 
the girls' screams for help, entered the bedroom where the man was 
holding the girls hostage. As they opened the door, the man detonated 
the bomb which scorched the gasoline soaked room, instantly killing 
both himself and the girls. The officers, trapped in the room when the 
bomb went off, survived, but suffered severe burns.
  Both officers were airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, 
the area's principal burn treatment center. Over one quarter of Officer 
Alu's body was covered with severe burns, and he was listed in critical 
condition. Detective O'Hara fared much worse.
  Over 80 percent of Mr. O'Hara's body was covered with third degree 
burns, and he had a gunshot wound in his thigh. He is still in the 
hospital today and still in critical condition. His wife, who gave 
birth to their son just 6 days after the explosion, spends as much time 
at O'Hara's bedside as the hospital allows, and his entire family has 
held prayer vigils at the hospital.
  However, Mr. Speaker, there was an even greater tragedy brought to 
light by this one incident. Because the officers were forced to retire, 
the Plantation Police Department would not cover their medical 
expenses. The policy, at the time of this accident, was that the 
department didn't pay the medical expenses of those who retired--even 
those who were forced to retire because of injuries suffered on the 
job. This is a policy which is not uncommon in many communities across 
the country. In light of this tragedy, Plantation changed its policy 
retroactively to include the two officers. It shouldn't take similar 
events to cause other communities to do the same.
  We need legislation in this country which protects those who risk 
their lives everyday to fight the war on crime, or fight fires, or 
fight to save others lives. We need laws which protect our valiant men 
and women on the front lines. When they go down in the line of duty, we 
have an obligation to provide for their long-term care. These two 
officers risked everything when they tried to save the lives of two 
young girls from a madman, how can we ask others to do the same if we 
won't stand behind them?


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