[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION'S DAN COOKE PIO AWARD OF 
                               EXCELLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 1999

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, on July 28, 1995, I addressed the House to 
salute the achievements of the National Press Photographers Association 
on its 50th anniversary. I said, in part:

       ``Through their experience, they know of the necessity for 
     a harmonious working relationship between the public safety 
     and the journalistic communities so that accurate, even 
     lifesaving information can be passed on very quickly to the 
     waiting public. It is through this goal that they created the 
     `National Media Guide for Emergency & Disaster Incidents.' ''

  Our nation has continued to face earthquakes, floods, fires, 
tornadoes, and human tragedies over these past years. Emergency 
information continues to flow from the scene through media 
representatives to the public with life-saving instructions and 
information.
  Now, two individuals and their Information Teams are being honored by 
the National Press Photographers Association. The NPPA Government/Media 
Relations Committee is pleased to announce the first recipients of the 
``NPPA Dan Cooke PIO Award of Excellence'': Deputy Sheriff Steve Davis 
of the Jefferson County, Colorado, Sheriff's Department and Assistant 
Chief Jon Hansen of the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Fire Department.
  Deputy Sheriff Davis is being honored for his work in keeping the 
public informed during the Columbine High School shootings in Colorado. 
Hansen is cited for his consistent dissemination of information over 
the years, most notably during the Oklahoma City Federal Office 
Building bombing and the recent tornadoes that killed and injured many 
people.
  This award is named in memory of Lt. Dan Cooke, a Los Angeles Police 
Department Press Relations Officer for 22 years. He retired in 1988 
after spending 35 years with the department. Cooke was the department's 
most frequent spokesman on major stories, from Presidential visits to 
infamous crimes that made headlines worldwide. In addition, he was a 
technical advisor on many movies and TV programs such as ``Dragnet,'' 
``Badge 714,'' and ``Adam 12.'' He became a personal friend to Jack 
Webb, and Cooke's Lieutenant's badge is the famous ``714.''
  Dan Cooke's high standards are ``the best a Press Information Officer 
can be'', said Bob Riha, Jr., a contract photographer with USA Today 
from Long Beach, California, and co-chair of the Government/Media 
Relations Committee.
  Within minutes of the horrifying Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, live 
broadcasts were sent around the world from the scene. Moments later, 
information flowed to media representatives from Assistant Chief Jon 
Hansen and his Public Information Team to a worldwide audience for the 
next several weeks, 24 hours a day. President Clinton even thanked 
Chief Hansen for his information updates as Federal and State resources 
raced to the scene to render aid.
  Recently, when tornadoes cut across Oklahoma, devastating communities 
in their path, Chief Hansen continued to provide emergency public 
information to his community, our nation, and the world, despite losing 
his own home to the tornadoes.
  The Columbine High School shootings were perhaps the most gripping 
tragedy in our nation in the past several years. As emergency 
responders arrived at the scene, so did Deputy Sheriff Steve Davis. 
Once a Media Information Center was established, Deputy Davis and PIO 
Team members provided updates and information to media representatives 
as often as necessary to keep his community, our nation, and the world 
informed.
  ``Public Information Officers like Davis and Hansen have set new 
standards for levels of cooperation between the media and public safety 
providers,'' said co-chair David Handschuh, staff photographer with the 
New York Daily News. ``The ultimate benefactor of this cooperation is 
the public, who stays updated and informed in times of crisis.''
  National Press Photographers Association President Linda Angelle 
said, ``Media, police and fire personnel work in jobs that require them 
to deal with both traumatic and tragic situations. Davis and Hansen 
have been recognized for outstanding work in exceptional circumstances 
and will be presented the Cooke PIO Award of Excellence at our National 
Convention in Denver July 2, 1999.''
  Media representatives and Public Information Officers serve a vital 
role in keeping our communities and the nation informed in times of 
crisis. I hope that Congress and State Legislatures continue to work 
together to keep that free flow of information open to the public 
through media representatives.

                          ____________________