[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 64 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2780-H2781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Ramstad] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on National Peace Officers 
Memorial Day to pay tribute to the 14,318 peace officers who have paid 
the ultimate price to protect our law-abiding citizens in our 
communities.
  The names of these heroes are inscribed on the wall of the National 
Law Enforcement Officers Memorial located just blocks from this 
Capitol. Two hundred fifty-four new names were added this week in a 
candlelight vigil, representing 116 police officers killed in the line 
of duty in 1996 and 138 others who sacrificed their lives in other 
years.
  My home State of Minnesota lost 3 police officers in 1996 who died in 
the line of duty. Brian Klinefelter, a St. Joseph, Minnesota police 
officer was slain by a liquor store robber. Rice County Deputy John 
Liebenstein was killed when his car was rammed by the teenage driver of 
a stolen car. A Dakota County, Minnesota Deputy Luther Klug was killed 
by a drunk driver who broadsided his patrol car after running a stop 
sign. The drunk driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.20, twice the 
legal limit in Minnesota.
  Another police officer, a Minneapolis police department officer, 
sustained a very painful loss at the hands of a drunk driver just 2 
months ago. The car of a drunk driver crushed the right leg of Officer 
David Loeffler, a rookie Minneapolis police officer while he and his 
partner were helping a pedestrian. This inspirational young officer 
sustained an amputation to his leg below the knee, but he is still 
determined to return to the force some day with the use of a prosthetic 
leg.
  These heroes, Mr. Speaker, are the reason we celebrate and observe 
Police Week and commemorate police officers Memorial Day. We honor the 
fallen and we also honor the living, the thousands of peace officers 
across this Nation who stand tall, putting their lives on the line 
every single day they wear the badge.
  This year I have the privilege of serving with the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Stupak], as cochair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus. 
The Caucus is promoting several legislative initiatives which I would 
like to call to the attention of our colleagues. These initiatives 
would amplify the message of Peace Officers Memorial Day.
  The first is House Concurrent Resolution 41 which the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Stupak] and I have cosponsored. This calls for the 
creation of a postage stamp commemorating fallen officers.
  The second is House Concurrent Resolution 47 which we have joined our 
colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Foglietta] in 
sponsoring. This resolution would fly a flag at half staff over the 
Capitol whenever a law enforcement officer is slain in the line of 
duty.
  Mr. Speaker, the least we can do to honor police officers across this 
Nation, those who have been killed in the line of duty, is to cosponsor 
and pass these two initiatives. So I encourage my colleagues to sign on 
to these bills

[[Page H2781]]

to cosponsor both of these measures, and I also encourage support for 
every other legislative initiative which would help law enforcement 
officers and the families of those who risk life and limb to promote 
law and order in our communities, in our States, and in our Nation.

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