[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 127 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LT. BOB DOUGLAS

 Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to an 
outstanding Kentuckian, Lt. Bob Douglas (ret).
  For almost 30 years, Bob has crusaded against the scourge of drugs 
and served the people of Kentucky, helping to make the Commonwealth a 
safer place to live.
  Bob worked for 25 years as a member of the Erlanger, Kentucky Police 
Department. For the last nine of those years, he was the primary 
instructor for the anti-drug program, D.A.R.E. When Bob retired from 
the police force in 1998, he became the Executive Director of the 
Kentucky Crime Prevention Coalition. He is also a new member of the 
steering committee of the National Crime Prevention Council.
  For his efforts, Bob was recently presented with a 2000 Mac Gray 
Award for his outstanding effort to promote the National Citizens' 
Crime Prevention Campaign. The award recognizes those who have made 
extraordinary contributions and pledged personal commitment to work 
with the media to promote anti-drug public service announcements and 
crime prevention education.
  Some have kidded Bob about the Columbo-style overcoat he wears. But 
like Peter Falk's character, Bob gets results. For years, he visited 
children in schools to teach them about the dangers of drugs and to 
urge them to stay out of trouble. With his partner, the canine 
character, Officer McGruff, there is no doubt that Bob made an 
impression and steered more than a few children in the right direction.
  Too often we hear about our problems and the trouble-makers in 
society, and we don't hear enough about our heroes and the everyday 
citizens who make a difference and improve our quality of life. Bob 
Douglas is one of those heroes, and he deserves our commendation.
  I ask that an article on Lt. Douglas be printed in the Record.
  The article follows:

                    Douglas Takes Bite Out of Award

                             (By Juli Hale)

       With his Columbo-style overcoat, some might think Bob 
     Douglas' long-time partner needs to call the fashion police. 
     But one look at the partner's big brown eyes and black, wet 
     nose is usually all it takes to draw in a crowd of kids to 
     listen to the pair's message of drug resistance and crime 
     prevention.
       Douglas and Officer McGruff, the tough-talking cartoon 
     canine, spent years visiting school classrooms trying to turn 
     at least one student away from a life of drug abuse and 
     crime, Douglas and others believe they did much more. Today, 
     the pair appears at community events and keeps spreading the 
     message.
       For his efforts in drug and crime prevention and for 
     sharing the spotlight with McGruff, Douglas was presented 
     with a 2000 Mac Gray Award last week in Washington. The Mac 
     Gray Award honors outstanding efforts to promote the National 
     Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign. It memorializes Berkeley 
     McCabe ``Mac'' Gray II, the late executive deputy director of 
     the National Crime Prevention Council.
       The award was one of only two presented in the nation this 
     year to officers who use McGruff as part of their message. 
     The award recognizes two winners each year--one at the 
     national/state level and one at the local/regional level--who 
     have made extraordinary contributions and personal 
     commitments to work with the media to secure donated 
     advertising for public service announcements as well as 
     promoting McGruff and crime prevention education. Douglas won 
     for the national/state level.
       ``I personally see this as an Erlanger award and I wanted 
     to share it with you,'' Douglas said to City Council Tuesday 
     night after showing a short video presentation about the 
     award. Obviously touched by the video, which showed Douglas 
     working with students over the years, Douglas held the glass 
     award high for everyone to see. The video also highlighted 
     Douglas' other achievements, such as his having McGruff's 
     image painted on the side of a new police cruiser and pushing 
     for the McGruff message ``take a bite out of crime'' to be 
     placed on billboards.
       Douglas worked for the Erlanger Police Department for 25 
     years, the last nine as the primary DARE instructor. Douglas 
     retired in 1998 and became executive director of the Kentucky 
     Crime Prevention Coalition, which also used McGruff-related 
     material. He was awarded the title of Kentucky DARE Officer 
     of the Year in 1997.
       ``You never cease to amaze me,'' Mayor Marc Otto told 
     Douglas. ``Keep up the good work.''
       Douglas will continue his work both as the executive 
     director of the Crime Prevention Coalition and as a new 
     member of the steering committee of the National Crime 
     Prevention Council. Douglas was asked to join that committee 
     last week.

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