[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S4901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY

  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I stand today as the sponsor of Senate 
Resolution 201 designating May 15, 1998, as National Peace Officers 
Memorial Day.
  This is the fifth year in a row that I have sponsored this resolution 
and I am proud to be joined this year by 62 of my Senate colleagues in 
honoring the brave men and women who serve this country as peace 
officers.
  Mr. President, tomorrow we will be adding the names of 159 officers 
to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Since the inception 
of this memorial, 14,662 peace officers names have been inscribed on 
the wall. I am also pleased to share with my Colleagues that tomorrow, 
at the State Police complex in Meridian, Idaho, the State will dedicate 
its own Law Enforcement Memorial to those Idahoans who have paid the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  These memorials, and others around the nation, serve as proof that 
the individuals who serve this nation as our guardians of peace do so 
at great personal risk. There are few communities in America that have 
not been touched by the senseless death of a peace officer by violent 
means. Last year, two communities in Idaho experienced the tragic 
deaths of two very talented and brave officers. I would like to share 
with you the sacrifices these men gave to protect the sanctity of their 
communities. It is my hope that while I relay their stories each of us 
would realize the important role that peace officers play in our 
everyday lives.
  While searching for the body of an 18 month old infant who had been 
lost in the Salmon River, William Inman, a Lemhi County deputy Sheriff, 
was killed when his hyper-light aircraft struck an unmarked power line 
and he tragically plunged into the river.
  Deputy Inman devoted his entire life to being an excellent police 
officer. He was a Sergeant in the police force in Peoria, Illinois, 
where he retired in order to become the Chief of Police in Farmington. 
After retiring from the Farmington force he moved to Salmon, Idaho, 
where he went to work as Sheriff's Deputy for Lemhi County. After his 
death deputy Inman was inducted posthumously into the American Police 
Hall of Fame.
  William Inman was a father of four children: Maria, Tracy, Jeff and 
Jennifer and was a loving husband to his wife Donna. Along with 
spending as much time with his family as he could, Bill was an avid 
outdoorsman.
  Bill Inman will be greatly missed by many, many people.
  The second tragedy struck Idaho's capital city of Boise in the early 
morning hours of September 20, 1997. Boise Police Officer Mark Stall 
pulled over a car bearing Pennsylvania plates that had committed a 
traffic violation. The driver and passenger of the vehicle refused to 
cooperate with Officer Stall's requests, when the driver suddenly 
removed a gun from under his coat and shot Officer Stall. Officer 
Stall, inflicted with a mortal gunshot wound, fell back to his patrol 
vehicle for cover and continued firing at the men in order to protect 
other Bosie officers in the ensuing gunfight. Both Officer Mark Stall 
and the two assailants were killed. Mark Stall's sacrifice protected 
not only the officers at the scene but the entire community, when a 
search of the suspect's residence revealed an arsenal of guns and 
explosive materials. You know it was not for peaceful purposes.
  Officer Stall was an exemplary police officer and set the standard 
for other officers both in Boise and around the nation. He was a loving 
father to his daughters Jonelle and Julia, and a devoted husband and 
best friend to his wife, Cheryl. Officer Stall was committed to his 
family, his community, his job and above all his God. I would like to 
share with you an excerpt from an Idaho Statesman article that outlines 
the lives of Idaho Peace Officers. In the article Officer Heath Compton 
characterized his hero, Mark Stall. ``One night quite a while back, I 
was driving down State Street in my patrol car, when a Boise police 
officer shined his spotlight in my face. I stopped to talk with him. I 
had never met the officer before, but realized quickly that he was very 
likable. He introduced himself as Mark Stall. Over the next several 
months, I got to know Mark quite well. What I learned was that Mark 
loved God, his family, the people he worked for and with. He always had 
a smile on his face and a good word.''
  The bravery and commitment to community that these men possessed will 
be carried on by their families. I am pleased to say that I have had 
the opportunity to spend time with the families of both officers.
  I met with the Inman family this morning, and yesterday I met with 
the Stall family, with his wife and his daughters and also with his 
mother and father, with his mother-in-law and father-in-law, brothers 
and sisters and all of their children. What a beautiful family. The 
only thing that was missing was Mark. But you can see the blessing that 
Mark had given to that family because of the wonderful memories of a 
great man. He will be missed greatly by his community and by his 
family, but every life that Mark touched will be blessed because of his 
being here.
  The strength and perseverance that is exemplified by each of them is 
an inspiration to me. My thoughts and prayers go out to these families 
and others that have been devastated by this type of senseless loss.
  This resolution is not the answer to the meaningless violence that 
occurs in our communities but it is a small attempt to celebrate and 
memorialize the lives of the officers who serve and protect us. I would 
like to thank my colleagues for their cosponsorship and would like to 
again thank the officers and the families that have come from all fifty 
states to our Nation's capital on this special day to eulogize these 
officers that have given the greatest sacrifice of all--their lives--in 
the performance of their duties.
  Mr. President, I know I speak for all Senators and for Americans when 
I salute the peace officers of America in all the communities, large 
and small. When they perform their duties, they are not sure what the 
outcome will be. They are never sure if it is going to be a peaceful 
stop or one that ends in violence and the loss of life.
  I know many of the police officers throughout my State of Idaho. I am 
proud to know each and every one of them, and I pray for their safety 
and that the officers will return safely to their families.
  It is an honor to serve here, with all of the police officers on 
Capitol Hill who we come to know personally. Again, they are an 
outstanding group of peace officers, as they are throughout this 
Nation.
  Today, Mr. President, I thank the Senate for properly acknowledging 
the role of peace officers and saying to the Inman family and to the 
Stall family, thank you for your sacrifice. God bless you and may you 
have peace in the days that follow.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

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