[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN HONOR OF RETIRING REDONDO BEACH POLICE CHIEF MEL NICHOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2001

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good friend, Mel 
Nichols, who retires later this month after eight years as Chief of the 
Redondo Beach Police Department. My district office is located in 
Redondo Beach, and Mel and his department have kept my staff and local 
residents well protected.
  I met Mel as he was leaving the San Diego County Sheriff's 
Department, where over three decades he rose from Sergeant to Assistant 
Sheriff. Mel accompanied me on a visit to the Mexican border, where we 
observed the value of technology in the fight against illegal 
immigration. I was pleased, subsequently, to help obtain night vision 
goggles for Mel's department.
  Mr. Speaker, of particular value to me has been Mel's involvement in 
the South Bay Chiefs' Association, of which he served as Chairman from 
1996-1998. This organization encompasses nine South Bay cities most of 
which lie completely in my district, California's 36th Congressional 
District. Although no longer the Chairman, Mel continues to be heavily 
involved in this association, which has been a helpful outlet for me to 
communicate with the chiefs in my district.
  In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Mel took it upon 
himself to launch within the South Bay Chiefs Association a Terrorism 
Response Advisory Group, and tasked one of his staff to pull it 
together. This Advisory Group, comprised of select experts in a variety 
of law enforcement disciplines from agencies throughout the greater 
South Bay area, is already working to explore and identify the 
appropriate local law enforcement response to the possibility of 
increased terrorist activity in our region. This includes training, 
contingency planning, threat assessments, liaison with federal and 
military agencies, resource availability, and intelligence.
  Mr. Speaker, this could not be more important. The group hopes that 
its findings and recommendations will become a model for other regions 
across the nation in how our local law enforcement agencies can best 
work in concert with county, state and federal agencies.
  This vitally important advisory group will be Mel's legacy. I know 
Mel will not forget this community that he loves, and I wish him and 
his family well in their future endeavors.

                          ____________________