[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E198-E199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN JAMES B. STRAIT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an impressive 
member of my community, Captain James B. Strait. Captain James B. 
Strait has played an important role in the Monterey Park Police 
Department and will be retiring after 31 years of service.
  Captain Strait joined the Monterey Park Police Department on February 
8, 1971 after graduating first in his class from the Riverside County 
Sheriff's Academy.
  Under his leadership, the Monterey Park Police Department made 
significant changes that improved the Police Department's service to 
the community. In addition to chairing the Department's Computer 
Acquisition team and implementing a state of the art digital radio 
system, he also worked to publish the department's first policy and 
procedures manual.
  In 1985, Captain Strait was awarded the Police Department's 
Distinguished Service Medal for his help in apprehending a person 
wielding a hand grenade. During the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, Captain 
Strait had the honor of being named Monterey Park Police Department's 
representative for the Security Coordination Center.

[[Page E199]]

  Captain Strait's dedication to community activism was shown when he 
became a founding member of the Mental Illness and Law Enforcement 
Systems (M.I.L.E.S.) executive board and a member of the Montclair 
School Board.
  Captain Strait has worked diligently to improve law enforcement 
performance through his career. He has been a true professional and 
will be missed by his many friends at the Monterey Park Police 
Department and other state law enforcement agencies but will be missed 
the most by the citizens whose lives he has touched.

                          ____________________