[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN HONOR OF THE RETIREMENT OF POLICE CHIEF DOMINICK J. RIVETTI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 17, 2001

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my very good 
friend, Dominick J. Rivetti, retiring Chief of the Police Department of 
the City of San Fernando. It has been my great pleasure to know 
Dominick for more than a decade and to see first hand his strong 
commitment to the City of San Fernando and the safety of its residents. 
I've had the opportunity to work with him on many issues both in his 
capacity as Chief and also as head of the Los Angeles County Chiefs of 
Police, especially with regard to the enactment, extension and 
expansion of the federal ``Cops on the Beat'' program and the 
maintenance of funding for the L.A. County Narcotics Task Force. Over 
the many years of our friendship, I have developed enormous admiration 
for his integrity, his dedication and his competence.
  Dominick is retiring after thirty-one years of distinguished service 
in law enforcement with the San Fernando Police Department. He began 
his career as a police officer and worked his way through the ranks of 
the Department, enjoying more and more responsible positions until he 
was named Chief of Police in December of 1985. During his 15-year 
tenure as Chief, Dominick has developed many innovative programs and 
under his able leadership, the San Fernando Police Department has 
thrived as a community friendly, highly effective law enforcement 
agency.
  Dominick's achievements are perhaps understood best through his 
personal philosophy toward law enforcement. He not only believes that 
the Department should protect the community, but that the Department 
must be an integral part of the community. Under his guidance, the 
Department has made San Fernando a safer, more peaceful place, 
embracing the notion that this can best be accomplished through earning 
and maintaining the support of the community. It is noteworthy that in 
the past five years, violent crime in San Fernando has dropped more 
than 50 percent and overall, crime has been reduced by 44 percent.
  Dominick has directed his Police Department to use its resources so 
as to get more officers on the street and into the community. He has 
seen to it that programs for young people such as DARE and special 
youth at risk prevention/intervention programs have been implemented. 
These programs help keep children from falling through the cracks by 
redirecting their energy and activities from potentially dangerous ones 
to constructive ones.
  Dominick's commitment to public service extends beyond his official 
law enforcement duties. He has been an active member of the San 
Fernando Kiwanis Club, the San Fernando Rotary and the Board of 
Directors Northeast Valley Jeopardy Program. He also has taught at UCLA 
and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department North Academy.
  It is my distinct honor and pleasure to pay tribute to my good friend 
Dominick Rivetti. He will be greatly missed by the City of San 
Fernando, but he will be leaving an extremely competent, honored Police 
Department and a safer community as his legacy. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in wishing him many happy, healthy and productive years ahead.

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