[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 64 (Friday, May 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

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                           HON. RONNIE SHOWS

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 2002

  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me 
in recognizing National Police Week.
  On September 11th, and the days that followed, the images of our 
police officers and firefighters rushing towards the toppling World 
Trade Center towers, as others fled for their lives, remained a 
constant image on our television screens. As hundreds of these valiant 
men and women perished on that terrible day, I was reminded of the 
thousands of police officers in Mississippi and across our nation, who 
each day put their lives in danger in the interest of our nation's 
welfare.
  It is important that we take opportunities to commend our officers 
and their equally brave families for their commitment to public safety. 
I was proud that President Bush visited the United States Capitol 
yesterday to attend the 21st annual National Peace Officers' Memorial 
Service to honor and remember the 230 law enforcement officers who lost 
their lives in the line of duty last year.
  This week I have thought a lot about Officer Ron Jones, of the 
Prentiss Police Department in Jeff Davis County, which is also my home 
county. Officer Jones lost his life the day after Christmas last year, 
while participating in a drug raid to halt the flow of narcotics into a 
city of only 1500 people. Ron Jones was a four year veteran K-9 officer 
who loved his job. He had a great role model. His father is the Police 
Chief of the same Police Department. And this family, who has devoted 
their life to fighting crime, and improving the very community they've 
grown up in, has now lost one of their own. This is a tragedy in 
itself. But the heartbreaking truth is that this happens in communities 
across our great nation every week of the year.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request that my colleagues join me in 
paying tribute to the legions of heroes-our police officers--who serve 
our country with faith, diligence and honor. We should mourn the 
thousands of lives unjustly lost, and honor those officers who continue 
to serve.

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