[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               DEA ADMINISTRATOR TOM CONSTANTINE RETIRES

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we regrettably learned that our 
nation's leading drug fighter, our distinguished DEA Administrator 
Thomas Constantine, has announced his retirement after five years of 
public service in Washington. Prior to coming to Washington, Mr. 
Constantine had long served with distinction in New York State as a 
state police officer. He became the first state trooper to rise to 
Superintendent of the N.Y. State Police after more than 30 years as a 
state trooper.
  Considered a ``cop's cop'' by our nation's law enforcement community 
and an expert on organized crime, he courageously called it as he saw 
it, particularly the laxness and corruption, drug trafficking and 
organized crime in Mexico. His candor, his integrity and honesty were 
always welcome, and significantly helped us to develop our drug control 
policy and thinking on this difficult, challenging subject.
  Director Constantine leaves just after opening a new DEA training 
academy at Quantico, Virginia that will serve as a leading 
international training center for fighting drugs in our hemisphere. He 
also led the way to opening of a second International Law Enforcement 
Academy (ILEA) in the world established with Thai Police in Bangkok, 
Thailand. That ILEA will help develop vital ``cop to cop'' links in 
Asia against the spread of illicit narcotics and transnational crime.
  During Director Constantine's tenure as Superintendent of the New 
York State Police, the 4,800 member department received numerous 
awards, including the Governor's Excelsior Award given to the best 
quality agency in state government. In 1994, Mr. Constantine was 
selected as the Governor's Law Enforcement Executive of the Year. He 
was also awarded the 1997 National Executive Institute's Penrith Award 
for outstanding law enforcement leadership.
  My colleagues, our nation, and especially our young people, have lost 
an outstanding and invaluable public servant. We all join in wishing 
Tom and his family good health and happiness in his retirement years.

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