[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H3262]]
                      TRIBUTE TO DEPUTY RICH OWEN

  (Mr. HUTCHINSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, last November, deputies and employees of 
the Benton County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas voted Rich Owen Deputy 
of the Year. They selected him for the award, they noted, because of 
his outstanding professionalism and devotion to helping others. Within 
days of that vote, Deputy Owen died in the line of duty. He died from 
injuries he received in an auto accident while responding to a burglary 
call.
  This week is National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Week, a time 
dedicated to the memory of heroes like Rich Owen, men and women who 
gave their lives serving and protecting others. I am at once proud and 
at the same time sad to pay tribute to these officers. I am proud that 
Arkansas has produced such courageous individuals as Deputy Owen, but I 
am sad that some have paid such an awful price for that dedication.
  I would like to pay special tribute to Deputy Owen's son, Brandon, 
who is with me here today. And I offer my condolences to Brandon's 
mother, Frankie Owen, as well. These two stand as a constant reminder 
of the sacrifices not only our police officers pay every day, but their 
families as well. They stand here today as a reminder of the debt the 
rest of us owe to our law enforcement community. The courage we pay 
tribute to here today is not only that of the officers, but of their 
families as well. The sacrifices they make are great.

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