[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO OFFICER WENTLANDT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 1997

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration that I rise 
today to pay tribute to Officer Rick Wentlandt, a retired police 
officer who is a real-life hero. I was honored to have the opportunity 
to meet Officer Wentlandt's family at the dedication ceremony for the 
Officer Rick Wentlandt Survival City, which will continue the efforts 
that Officer Wentlandt began after surviving his own personal tragedy.
  In 1981, Officer Rick Wentlandt of the Metro-Dade Police Department 
was severely wounded while on duty and forced to retire. After 
miraculously surviving this tragic incident, in which he interrupted an 
armed rape and managed to save a woman's life while he was shot six 
times in the process, Officer Wentlandt took what he learned from this 
experience and began teaching a class on Officer Survival Mindset 
Training. His teachings have been used to train law enforcement 
officers, police trainers, and mental health professionals from around 
the country about mastering the mental aspects of survival. Even after 
his injuries forced him to retire from the police department, Officer 
Wentlandt continued to volunteer his time, logging hundreds of hours 
teaching survival skills to veteran officers and new recruits.
  I feel extremely fortunate to have met Officer Rick Wentlandt's 
family and sincerely appreciate the contributions he had made to South 
Florida. It is important that we learn from his experiences and take 
his teachings to heart.

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