[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 100 (Thursday, July 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF COMMANDER GREGORY LAWRENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
honor my dear friend, Commander Gregory Lawrence, a member of the 
Milpitas, California Police Department. I would like to congratulate 
Commander Lawrence on his retirement, September 8, 2000.
  Commander Lawrence attended high school at William C. Overfelt High 
School in San Jose, California. Between the years of 1966 and 1969 he 
served as a Tank Commander in the U.S. Army. He continued his education 
at San Jose City College and San Jose State University. In 1979 he 
graduated from San Jose State with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 
Administration of Justice. In 1995 he earned a Masters Degree in 
Management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. During 
his 29 year police career he attended the FBI National Academy, the 
POST sponsored Supervisory Leadership Institute and Command College.
  Commander Lawrence began his career with the Milpitas Police 
Department on June 18, 1971. Through hard work and dedication he rose 
through the ranks and was promoted to Senior Officer in September 1973, 
Sergeant in July 1980, Lieutenant in October 1991, and Commander on 
September 15, 1998.
  Commander Lawrence served as a supervisor in patrol, traffic, 
community relations, personnel, and investigations. He was instrumental 
in the development and implementation of the first Community Relations 
unit where he taught drug resistance classes at Ayer and Milpitas High 
Schools. He was also one of the department's first Crisis Negotiators. 
He was the first and only Sergeant to ride motorcycles as a duty 
assignment and researched, developed, and implemented the department's 
driver training and bicycle programs.
  Commander Lawrence served his community extremely well and I cannot 
thank him enough for his unselfish dedication to the city of Milpitas. 
He has accomplished a lot in his 29 years with the police department 
and has set a great example for dozens of other police officers, 
friends, and members of the community for years to come.
  Commander Lawrence deserves great commendation, and I would like to 
ask my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating him on his 
retirement.

                          ____________________