[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DEPUTY COOPER STEELE

 Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
true hero; Deputy Cooper Steele of Kenton County, Kentucky. The 
Northern Kentucky Police Chiefs Association recently recognized Deputy 
Steele as the 2002 Outstanding Police Officer of the Year for his 
performance in the line of duty. Today, Court TV in conjunction with 
the Women's Caucus and several congressional members recognized Deputy 
Steele and six other heroic individuals around the Nation as a part of 
Court TV's ``Everyday Heroes'' Initiative. This is certainly a special 
day for Deputy Steele and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.
  On November 2, 2001, while on what appeared to be a routine patrol, 
Deputy Steele observed black smoke coming from an apartment building. 
Without hesitation or fear, Deputy Steele immediately stopped his 
patrol car in front of the building and noticed a woman on the third 
floor desperately screaming for help. Deputy Steele attempted to enter 
the apartment building but was violently driven back by the thick and 
suffocating smoke. With complete disregard for his own well-being, 
Deputy Steele heroically climbed onto a second story balcony and 
directed the evacuation of the four member family from the third floor 
balcony by handing them down one-by-one to anther officer and out of 
harms way. There were many other families still trapped in the burning 
building, but they refused to attempt a floor-to-floor transfer as the 
first family had done. Once again demonstrating his selfless and heroic 
nature, Deputy Steele refused to leave the scene, continuing to place 
himself in harm's way. He remained with the other tenants advising, 
encouraging and keeping them calm until the fire department equipment 
arrived to safely extricate the people from the building.
  I am truly honored and humbled to be representing amazing individuals 
such as Deputy Cooper Steele in the United States Senate. In these 
trying and turbulent times, men like Deputy Steele should serve as an 
inspiration to us all. His heroic actions saved lives. His selfless 
nature shed a ray of light on a seemingly hopeless situation. I ask 
that my fellow colleagues join me in thanking Deputy Steele for having 
the instincts and the heart to do what he did. This man is a true hero 
and deserves our sincerest admiration.

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