[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RETIREMENT OF CAPTAIN GARY L. McGHEE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2000

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate Captain Gary McGhee, who will be retiring in May, after a 
long and distinguished career with the Michigan State Police. Needless 
to say, as a former state trooper myself, I am proud of Michigan law 
enforcement, and Captain McGhee's service has given us additional 
reason to be proud. It is for this reason that on behalf of the U.S. 
House of Representatives, and the citizens of the State of Michigan, I 
commend Captain McGhee on his service, and wish him the best of luck 
and good health in his retirement.
  Captain McGhee achieved a high level of success throughout his years 
with the State Police, culminating with his current position as Eighth 
District Commander, where he is in charge of thirteen State Police 
Posts and three two-officer concept offices, total delivery of State 
Police services to fifteen counties of the U.P.
  Captain McGhee has always looked out for the citizens of Michigan by 
his service as a trooper, his guidance of his fellow officers, and his 
leadership and initiative. He began his service with his enlistment in 
recruit school in May of 1966, and his start as a trooper in Bridgeport 
and Lansing. Of course, not one to sit on the sidelines, a year later 
he received a Lifesaving Award when he jumped off the Zilwaukee Bridge 
to aid another officer, risking his own life to save that of another.
  Captain McGhee has published both nationally and internationally, and 
been instrumental in bringing law enforcement communities to work 
together on timely issues. His innovative traffic safety initiative, 
``Let's Buckle (the) U.P.'', drew together all law enforcement agencies 
for the first time in a united effort to promote safety on Michigan's 
streets. Most recently, in 1998 and 1999 he coordinated law enforcement 
between Michigan and Wisconsin by putting together the Wisconsin/
Michigan Law Enforcement Summit where officials and government leaders 
from both states met to discuss issues common across the border.
  Captain McGhee has done so much, so well, for so long, that I can 
only recall one occasion that his judgment may be called into question: 
letting me graduate from recruit school while he was Recruit School 
Commander! In all seriousness, I thank him for his help and advice that 
he gave me and other recruits that went on to serve in his tradition. 
As former Post-Commander in Reed City, Assistant District Commander in 
the Eight and Seventh Districts, and as the current Eighth District 
Commander, Captain McGhee has ensured that the men and women under his 
watch perform to their highest possible levels, to the best advantage 
of the citizens of the U.P. and Michigan.
  Captain McGhee, you will be missed, but your accomplishments and 
guidance have left their mark, making law enforcement in the U.P. and 
Michigan something we can all be proud of! I also congratulate Suzanne 
McGhee on her retirement, and wish the best to the entire McGhee 
family.




                          ____________________