[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               HONORING THE LATE OFFICER RYAN CUNNINGHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I now honor 
an extraordinary human being and great American. Officer Ryan 
Cunningham of the Vail Police Department was killed in the line of duty 
on Sunday, May 5, 2001 while trying to avoid an out of control semi 
truck. ``Officer Cunningham was one of the finest officers I have known 
in my 24 years of policing,'' said Vail Police Chief Greg Morrison.
  In the early morning hours of Sunday, Ryan and another officer 
responded to an accident on I-70 when a truck driver lost control of 
his semi on an icy stretch of road and began heading in Ryan's 
direction. Ryan's immediate reaction was for those around him. After he 
was sure of the safety of his fellow officers, Ryan ran to the left 
shoulder and tried to protect himself by jumping over a concrete 
retaining wall. He fell 60 feet to his death. The truck was able to 
make a controlled stop 100 feet away from where Ryan jumped.
  Ryan was born in Salt Lake City and moved to Colorado in 1992 where 
he graduated from Arapahoe Community College in 1998. He joined the 
Vail Police Department in 2000. ``Ryan just radiated goodness. He was a 
member of the Latter Day Saints church. His dedication to family and 
community was very, very heartfelt,'' Morrison said. ``He was a fine 
human being.'' Mr. Speaker and fellow colleagues, as you can see, this 
extraordinary human being truly deserves our timeless gratitude for his 
service and supreme sacrifice while in the line of duty. Ryan 
Cunningham may be gone but his legacy will long endure in the minds of 
those who were fortunate enough to know him. Colorado is assuredly a 
better place because of Ryan Cunningham.

                          ____________________