[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THOMAS CHARLES TURK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former 
Undersheriff of Madera County, Thomas Charles Turk on the occasion of 
his retirement. The event commemorating the occasion will be held in 
Madera County at the Fairgrounds in Chowchilla, California on Saturday, 
April 26th, 2003.
  Thomas Turk has dedicated half of his life to law enforcement. As a 
young man he was drafted into the United States Army and served for two 
years as a military policeman. When he came out of active duty, he 
joined the Madera County Sheriff's department and was assigned to the 
jail. After one year, he began patrolling the Chowchilla streets 
working out of a substation. He was respected and admired by the 
community. For much of his career, Tom was on a first name basis with 
most of Madera County. He was later appointed to the Detective Division 
and then to Sergeant. There, he learned that every time you get 
promoted you get moved to the graveyard shifts. Tom worked his way up 
through the ranks, from Sergeant to Lieutenant, and then to 
Undersheriff.
  Undersheriff Turk dedicated his life to his department and the people 
of Madera County. He never stopped promoting the integrity of the 
Department and the honor of his position. Tom has worked countless 
overnight shifts, which accounts for his two ``Officer of the Year'' 
commendations, and has done so with the utmost humility. Tom's 
dedication to his job makes great departments such as the one in Madera 
County.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Undersheriff Thomas Charles Turk 
for his service to the County of Madera and for his outreach to the 
community of which he served. I invite my colleagues to join me in 
commending Thomas for his devotion throughout his career and in wishing 
him many years of continued success.

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