[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 17, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            A SALUTE TO THE POLICE OFFICERS OF ORANGE COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2000

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I salute the police officers of this 
nation, especially those of the 46th Congressional District in Orange 
County.
  Every day, 700,000 police officers serve our country. Most Americans 
probably don't know that our nation loses an average of almost one 
officer every other day. Those figures do not include the law 
enforcement personnel who are assaulted and injured each year.
  More than 14,000 officers have been killed in the line of duty. The 
sacrifice of California officers has given our state the highest number 
of police deaths: 1,205.
  The calling to serve in law enforcement comes with bravery and 
sacrifice. Those who make up the thin blue line protecting our homes, 
our families and our communities pay a price, and so do the loved ones 
they leave behind when tragedy strikes.
  In particular, I rise in recognition of the jurisdictions that serve 
my district: The Anaheim Police Department, the Garden Grove Police 
Department, the Santa Ana Police Department and the Santa Ana Unified 
School District Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and 
the Orange County Sheriff.
  We cannot replace the officers we've lost. We cannot bring them back 
to their families or departments. All we can do is grieve for their 
loss.
  But as their federal representatives, we have a greater 
responsibility. We must ensure that our law enforcement agencies--and 
their officers and staff--have the resources they need to do their jobs 
safely.
  And today we fulfill the most solemn part of our obligation to our 
America's police force: we promise that when an officer does make that 
sacrifice, he or she earns a place of the highest national respect with 
all due honor from the U.S. government.

                          ____________________