[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E117-E118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO CHIEF CLARENCE HARMON ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______


                        HON. RICHARD A. GEPHARDT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 1996

  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of the 
great citizens of my hometown, St. Louis, on his retirement from a 
unique and valuable career of public service.
  Col. Clarence Harmon, who will celebrate his retirement later this 
week, had a truly distinguished career with the Metropolitan St. Louis 
Police Department. After working his way up through the ranks, he 
became the first African-American police chief in the city's history.
  Perhaps Chief Harmon's greatest contribution to the police 
department, and to the safety of our citizens, was his early and 
fervent commitment to community oriented policing. The success of this 
program can be seen as the crime rate in St. Louis declines--with the 
murder rate dropping by 18 percent last year. By 

[[Page E118]]
encouraging the police to work hand in hand with the community to 
address problems before they become crises he has been instrumental in 
increasing community confidence and police effectiveness.
  I join my fellow St. Louisans in congratulating Chief Harmon on a job 
well done and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________