[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S1204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM GRAHAM

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the 
outstanding public service contributions of Windham County Sheriff 
William Graham, who retired on Friday, February 1, 2002. For 33 years, 
Graham, who is now 70 years old, has run his department efficiently and 
with fiscal accountability to the taxpayers.
  Since the attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon last 
September, many Americans have realized how important honest and hard-
working law enforcement personnel are to our Nation and our 
communities. People from around the U.S. watched the police forces in 
New York and Virginia exhibit an integrity that all Americans 
appreciated. But I suspect that for the Vermonters of Windham County, 
in southern Vermont, they have always known this lesson: a trustworthy 
and reliable police department is indispensable to a community's 
health.
  In 1969, William began his work as sheriff in a department in which 
he was the only full-time employee. Since then, the department has 
grown to 20 full-time and an equal number of part-time employees. In 
Vermont, sheriffs' departments are responsible for transporting 
prisoners to and from criminal courts and with the paperwork from civil 
cases. But it hasn't been the duties that have given this sheriff's 
department distinction. Instead, Sheriff Graham's lengthy time in 
office has given his constituents the reliable and competent public 
service they deserve.
  Even before being selected sheriff, William worked as a state police 
trooper and a parole officer. All-in-all, his work in law enforcement 
has spanned 48 years. I wish Sheriff Graham all the success in his 
retirement that he enjoyed during his long career. And especially so 
during hunting season.

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