[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 92 (Wednesday, July 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1225]]



                    RECOGNIZING BONNI GAYLE TISCHLER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 10, 2002

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, this month marks the end of an era in 
law enforcement when Bonni Gayle Tischler, the highest ranking woman to 
ever serve this country in federal law enforcement, leaves the United 
States Customs Service to pursue other opportunities in private 
industry. Industry's gain is truly our loss.
  Ms. Tischler, the Assistant Commissioner for Field Operations at 
Customs and the first woman to ever hold that position, began her 
career at the National Republican Congressional Committee. But politics 
did not quench her thirst for adventure so, in 1971, she became one of 
the first women to become a United States Sky Marshall. In 1977, Ms. 
Tischler became one of the very first women to become a federal agent 
with the Customs Service, working undercover in the Miami based 
``Operation Greenback,'' an innovative anti-money laundering program 
established by the United States Department of Treasury. Playing roles 
ranging from a crooked executive to the madam of a brothel, Ms. 
Tischler, by her example, proved that law enforcement and the public 
were the beneficiaries of strong, smart women cops.
  During the Administration of President Ronald Reagan, Ms. Tischler 
became the first woman in the federal government to head a law 
enforcement field office when she took over as Special Agent in Charge 
in Tampa Florida. While in Tampa she oversaw the investigation into the 
Bank of Credit and Commerce International, the largest money laundering 
investigation of its kind. Her work not only gained her attention in 
Washington, but also resulted in a contract put out on her life.
  Named, in 1997 to oversee 4,500 agents and investigative personnel at 
152 field offices throughout the world, she became the first woman to 
become the Assistant Commissioner for Investigations at Customs. During 
her tenure she had responsibility for the largest money-laundering 
probe in U.S. history, ``Operation Casablanca,'' and ``Operation 
Cheshire Cat'', also the largest-ever international child pornography 
and exploitation case among many others.
  In June of 2000, Ms. Tischler was tapped to head Customs Office of 
Field Operations, by far the largest segment of the Customs Service, 
with over 13,000 employees, a $1 billion dollar budget, 300 Ports of 
Entry and all Customs Management Centers and Field Laboratories.
  The National Center for Women and Policing has honored her with its 
prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as a mentor to 
thousands of other women who have followed her footsteps into law 
enforcement careers.
  Perhaps, however, her biggest challenge was personal. Bonni Tischler 
is a breast cancer survivor.
  Today, the sight of a woman in a police uniform is not at all 
uncommon. This is partly due to the fact that Bonni Tischler was never 
an armchair feminist. While other adventuresome young women of her 
generation pursued careers as lawyers or businesswomen, Bonni Tischler 
was on the firing range, mastering the use of a gun. She marched on a 
different road to a different drummer and we are all better off because 
of it. For thousands of women today, and a countless number in the 
future, Bonni Tischler not only broke the glass ceiling, she shattered 
it, and in doing so she changed the face of federal law enforcement 
forever.

                          ____________________