[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E640-E641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO LA GRANGE POLICE OFFICERS ROBIN PROKASKI AND JIM LIOTTA

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 25, 1996

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to pay tribute to two 
outstanding police officers who heroically risked their lives to save 
two people from a burning house in my district.
  Officers Robin Prokaski and James Liotta of the La Grange, IL police 
department were the first to respond to an alarm that brought them to a 
burning house in the community in the early morning hours of February 
24. One occupant of the house, Jerry Chlapcik, had escaped the flames 
and smoke, but his elderly wife and his daughter, a guardriplegic, were 
still trapped inside. Officers Prokaski and Liotta climbed through a 
window and found the mother attempting to get the daughter out of bed.
  Working quickly in the dense smoke, they were able to get both mother 
and daughter out of the house, handing the victims out of the window.
  For their heroic efforts, Officers Prokaski and Liotta were awarded 
the Chief's Award of Valor from the fire department.

[[Page E641]]

  Mr. Speaker, I commend these two brave police officers, and I wish to 
remend all Americans of the debt they owe those who risk their lives to 
protect ours.

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