[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO LYONS POLICE OFFICERS JAMES RITZ, CHARLES WRIGHT, AND ROBERT 
                                  COOK

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to three 
police officers from my district who recently went above and beyond the 
call of duty to save a man from his burning home.
  In the early morning hours of January 29, 1996, Sgt. James Ritz, 
Officer Charles Wright, and Officer Robert Schook of the Lyons Police 
Department responded to a 911 call from the home of Charles Schmidt, 
77. Upon arriving, they discovered smoke pouring out of the house and 
learned that Mr. Schmidt, who has vision problems and is a partial 
amputee, was trapped inside. Without a second thought to their own 
safety, the three entered the building and groped through its smoke-
filled rooms until they found Mr. Schmidt and carried him out of the 
house.
  As Lyons Deputy Fire Chief Gordon Nord said of these three heroes, 
``To go in with no protection was above and beyond the call of duty. If 
it wasn't for the three police officers, we would have had one 
fatality.''
   Mr. Speaker, I commend Sergeant Ritz, Officer Wright, and Officer 
School for their incredible bravery. All Americans owe these three 
officers, and all those who risk their lives to protect ours, a debt of 
gratitude.

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