[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF SHERIFF RICHARD ROTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 5, 1999

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the tremendous work of 
Sheriff Richard Roth. On July 26, Richard announced that he will retire 
after 35 remarkable years with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. 
Sheriff Roth will be sorely missed by the South Florida law enforcement 
community, as Richard's resume is nothing sort of astonishing.
  Originally beginning his career in 1965 as a radio dispatcher, 
Richard Roth has held countless positions in the Monroe County 
Sheriff's Office. Road patrol officer, detective, detective lieutenant, 
major--these are some of the many titles which Richard has held 
throughout his years of service. However, it wasn't until 1990 that he 
was named Sheriff to carry out the term of former Sheriff J. Allison 
DeFoor II. Since his appointment to the post in 1990, Richard has been 
re-elected twice.
  Throughout his tenure as Sheriff, Richard Roth has accomplished much, 
including the reduction of the crime rate in the Florida Keys. Sheriff 
Roth was also instrumental in implementing the ``Smart Cop'' program, a 
program in which deputies are assigned a particular area so that they 
can become acquainted with specific neighborhood problems and concerns. 
This is all part of Richard's tremendous desire to have the Sheriff's 
office closely tied to the community, so that the south Florida law 
enforcement community can best accommodate the citizens of Monroe 
County.
  Though he will not be seeking re-election, Sheriff Roth's term is by 
no means over. One year before the qualifying race to fill his position 
begins, Richard aims to have the Sheriff's Office accredited. To 
accomplish this, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office will have to meet 
all of the standards set by the Commission on Accreditation for Law 
Enforcement Agencies and the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement 
Accreditation.
  Mr. Speaker, the future looks especially bright for Richard Roth 
because he will have his family near him full time. He and his wife 
Sandra have already celebrated their 41st Anniversary, and they will be 
busy traveling through Europe after Richard's retirement. I wish to 
thank him for his tremendous work on behalf of the entire south Florida 
community, and I would like to extend my best wishes for the future as 
well.

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