[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 102 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO SHELTER ISLAND POLICE CHIEF L. GEORGE FERRER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 1996

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late L. 
George Ferrer, a selfless, dedicated law enforcement officer who for 
nearly 20 years served the town of Shelter Island, Long Island as its 
chief of police.
  A 26-year veteran of the Shelter Island Police Department, George 
suffered a fatal heart attack while hard at work at his desk early on 
the morning of Thursday, June 27. Despite the quick reactions of Police 
Officer Jack Thilberg, who administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 
and Sergeant Jeffrey Brewer that enabled ambulance crews to transport 
the chief safely to the hospital, George Ferrer passed away at Winthrop 
University Hospital at 3:09 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2.
  With George Ferrer's passing, not only has the community of Shelter 
Island lost a faithful protector, but Long Island's entire law 
enforcement community has lost one of its finest members. With an 
unyielding devotion to the badge he wore, and all that it represents, 
Chief George Ferrer set an example of professionalism and commitment 
for the officers of his department, for law enforcement officers 
everywhere and for the public he served so well.
  The example George Ferrer provided will live on because it will be 
carried forward by men like Shelter Island Police Sergeant Jeffrey 
Brewer, who served under the chief for nearly 20 years. Delivering the 
eulogy at his chief's funeral service, Sergeant Brewer talked about the 
steadfast devotion to professionalism that George Ferrer brought to the 
job every day and how it shaped him and the other officers.
  Though, as chief of police, George was the administrative head of the 
department, he was not afraid to do the routine police work, whether it 
was directing traffic or gathering evidence. ``George led us past our 
feelings and emotions and into the trenches. For he was spit and 
polished to most--to us he was never afraid to roll up his sleeves and 
get dirty, to get the job done,'' Brewer eulogized.
  The greatest tribute that could be paid George Ferrer's legacy as 
chief of the Shelter Island Police Department are the police officers 
who mentored under his command and took to heart his dedication and who 
will continue to protect and serve the community. The Shelter Island 
police officers you see in front of you today are a product of George's 
legacy. They have all been with me in body and George in spirit since 
last Thursday morning. They have been away from their families for days 
on end. When the news came of George's passing, they knew what they had 
to do. I never told them--I didn't have to. They just knew they had to 
be spit and polished,'' Brewer told those who gathered to mourn 
George's passing and to comfort his family.

  It was not just the law enforcement community that appreciated George 
Ferrer's dedication and commitment. Shelter Island Town Supervisor 
Huson ``Hoot'' Sherman described the chief as ``very professional, very 
dedicated to Shelter Island and to the police work on Shelter Island. 
Whenever we had any kind of emergency or an accident, whenever there 
was somebody in distress in any way, George was always there on the 
scene, taking charge of the situation.'' Part of George Ferrer's duties 
was to act as Shelter Island's Emergency Management Coordinator during 
any sort of hurricane or winter blizzard.
  Supervisor Sherman praised his ability as a law enforcement officer, 
but also an administrator, saying that ``George ran a very tight 
department. He did a terrific job, his whole life was wrapped up being 
the Shelter Island Police Chief.'' As Supervisor Sherman also recalled, 
George was a very industrious man who was always working to supplement 
his police salary, doing carpentry work or selling real estate around 
the Island.
  All who knew George Ferrer praised his dedication to the Shelter 
Island Police Department, his tireless devotion to the island's 
residents and to the police officers under his command. As impressive 
as his commitment to the police force, none of it surpassed George's 
love for his family. They were always his first consideration. Chief 
Ferrer leaves behind his wife Shirley, son Christopher and daughters 
Lori and Danielle, as well as his granddaughter Rebecca. He is also 
survived by his mother Cecelia Glas and stepfather, Adolph Glas, his 
brother Robert and sisters Celia and Elisa.
  And as the Shelter Island Reporter, Chief Ferrer's hometown 
newspaper, put it, ``We'll miss his professional energy and his 
enthusiasm, his personal honesty and his fairness with us. We'll miss 
him as a person. We'd be honored if he misses us when Tuesday mornings 
roll around.''
  For his many years of selfless, dedicated service to the community, 
we all owe Shelter Island Police Chief L. George Ferrer a great debt of 
gratitude and thanks. May his spirit of public service and 
professionalism live on in all our hearts. He was a class act and will 
be sorely missed by all who came to know him personally and 
professionally across eastern Long Island.
  Sergeant Jeff Brewer's entire eulogy speech on Chief Ferrer follows:

       To those of you who don't know me, I am sergeant Jeff 
     Brewer of the Shelter Island Police Department. For the past 
     19 years and 3 months, I have had the privilege to serve 
     under Chief George Ferrer, first when he was sergeant then as 
     a chief. We have been through a lot together. When I was a 
     ``rookie'' we laughed as I fumbled over my own two feet. Then 
     as time moved on, much like a teenager feeling his oats, I 
     challenged some of his ways not knowing why. He always got 
     the last word in by saying, ``This is my sandbox.'' Through 
     the years I learned to understand the meaning of that and 
     from that grew a strong respect. The Chief was more like an 
     older brother to be than a boss. We shared the private pain 
     of losing longtime fellow officers and friends to retirement 
     and injuries. Still we remained, Chief Ferrer, Detective 
     Springer, and me. Over the years, oddly as it seems, George 
     and I arrived at an ironic balance; similar to the odd 
     couple, George with his unyielding serious side and me with 
     my more witty approach. This combination seemed to get us 
     through the daily occurrences from the trivial and mundane to 
     the serious and the grotesque. George led us past our 
     feelings and emotions and into the trenches. For he was spit 
     and polished to most, to us he was never afraid to roll up 
     his sleeves and get dirty to get the job done.
       The Shelter Island Police Officers you see in front of you 
     today are a product of George's legacy. They have all been 
     with me in body and George in spirit since last Thursday 
     morning. They have been away from their families for days on 
     end. When the news came of George's passing, they knew what 
     to do. I never told them what to do; I didn't have to. They 
     just knew they had to be spit and polish. They spent hours 
     and hours of their own time putting this together. They spent 
     hours practicing every step for today. It had to be right.
       I have heard through the grapevine that this is just a big 
     show! They cannot understand! These fine officers and the 
     rest of you in blue know this is no show! This how our family 
     shows our respect to a fellow officer and his family. And it 
     shows how law enforcement is not just a job but rather a way 
     of life and Chief George Ferrer demonstrated it every day.
       As in life as we know it, there are beginnings, endings, 
     and new beginnings so let me finish by going back to the 
     beginning. To Shirley and the Ferrer family, I am personally 
     honored and privileged to have served under such a fine 
     leader like Chief L. George Ferrer. We will do our best to 
     keep his legacy of pride and professionalism alive in this 
     department that he so proudly served. God bless the Chief in 
     his new tour of duty.

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