[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO MISSOURI DEPUTY KEVIN M. MAYSE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS KILLED IN 1995
Mr. ASHCROFT. Madam President, I rise today to honor the heroic
service of our Nation's law enforcement officers, especially those who
have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. Facing increasingly
organized and violent criminals, these brave men and women constitute
the first line of defense against those who threaten society. We should
be thankful that they do not shrink from this challenge. In the quest
for law and order, 161 of our Nation's finest citizens made the supreme
sacrifice in 1995, laying down their lives so that the rest of us may
enjoy peace and prosperity. It is to honor their memory that today is
proclaimed National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
I wish to honor in particular a brave, young Missourian. Cass County
Deputy Sheriff Kevin M. Mayse died on June 13, 1995, from injuries
sustained while preserving and enhancing the quality of life enjoyed by
his fellow Missourians in Cass County. Deputy Mayse left behind a
widow, Scottie Sue, and four children, including his youngest daughter
whom he never had the joy to meet since she was born a month after
Kevin's death.
As we honor those who have fallen while protecting others, we should
also honor those such as Scottie Sue and her children who have paid a
very high price for our protection as well. In his autobiography,
Benjamin Franklin wrote: ``The most acceptable service of God is doing
good to man.'' The Bible says that there is no greater love than ``when
one lays down his life for his friends.'' I can think of no greater
service to his fellow man than that given by Deputy Sheriff Mayse.
Three Missouri peace officers who died before 1995 have also been
added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Officers
George M. McCready of Richmond Heights, Max W. Smith of Moniteau
County, and George Adams of St. Louis County also gave their lives in
defense of their fellow citizens.
As we honor those lawmen slain in the line of duty, let us not forget
those who carry on as guardians of our peace. We must protect them in
turn by providing them with the tools and the laws necessary to wage
the war against the ever-changing face of crime. Today, violent
juvenile crime is growing at a phenomenal rate, yet our juvenile
justice system is ill-prepared to cope with its dramatic rise or its
brutality. Major reconstruction of the Federal and State juvenile
justice systems is needed to ensure that violent and hardcore
criminals, old and young, are identified, punished, and deterred. We
also need to ensure that our fallen heroes, such as Deputy Sheriff
Kevin Mayse, are not forgotten.
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