[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1467]]



               TRIBUTE TO STATE TROOPER BARRY WASHINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize 
the work that Trooper Barry Washington has done in curtailing drug 
trafficking in the State of Texas.
  Trooper Washington is doing his part in helping Americans win the war 
on drugs. Each year, he hauls in more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana 
and 20,000 grams of cocaine according to the Texas Department of Public 
Safety. In an average week, Trooper Washington sends two drug-
trafficking suspects through the local court system. As a result the 
system has become so taxed with drug arrests that the legislature 
granted a county court wider jurisdiction so that they could help 
handle the backlog. And drug smugglers, many of whom depend on the 
stretch of U.S. 59 that Trooper Washington patrols, have noticed. 
Authorities say the smugglers are finding other routes to get drugs 
from Houston to other parts of the Nation.
  Some have suggested that Trooper Washington finds drugs only because 
he is allergic to them; however, he would need more than an allergic 
reaction to start a search. He begins searches because he studies the 
fourth amendment and tries to read as many law cases that deal with 
searches and seizures as he can. He has taught classes on the subject 
to several city and county police departments. Additionally, he uses 
modern technology--his cruiser is equipped with a video recorder, and 
he wears a microphone on his uniform. During some of his travels up and 
down highway 59, he has found drugs inside tires, dashboards, 
headlights, doors, and just about every other part of a vehicle where 
something can be hidden.
  I want to thank State Highway Patrol Trooper Barry Washington for his 
incredible record of service to our State and our community. I salute 
him for his commitment to keeping our streets safe from drugs and drug 
dealers. I congratulate him for a job well done and I hope he continues 
to match or beat his own records of bringing drug trafficking to an 
end.

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