[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 93 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1342-E1343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING ILLINOIS LAW ENFORCEMENT MEDAL RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. J. DENNIS HASTERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 1997

  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the recent recipients 
of the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, for bravery and 
performance above and beyond the call of duty.
  I want to particularly commend one of the recipients of that honor 
from Illinois Governor, Jim Edgar, an officer from my district, Officer 
Kevin Bretz of the Batavia, IL, Police Department.
  Mr. Speaker, on February 3, 1996, Officer Bretz was involved in the 
pursuit of a suspect who was attempting to flee in his car. While on 
foot on the grounds of the Kane County Correctional Complex, Officer 
Bretz put himself in danger by pulling another officer, Officer Jeff 
Burton of the Geneva, IL, Police, to safety and out of the path of the 
oncoming suspect's vehicle. The suspect was arrested a short time 
later, and has since been sentenced to 12 years in prison, and has 
reportedly admitted that he would have struck Officer Burton with his 
car had Officer Bretz not been there to pull Burton to safety.
  For his heroic actions on that day, and for putting himself at risk 
to save a fellow officer, Officer Kevin Bretz deserves to be commended 
for his actions. I applaud Governor Edgar for his selection of Officer 
Bretz for the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, and

[[Page E1343]]

I thank him personally for his efforts on behalf of the American people 
and the citizens of my district.

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