[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15972-S15973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO JOHN R. (JACK) CHAILLET

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding

[[Page S15973]]

Virginian and patriotic American who died of lung cancer on November 8, 
2003--John R. (Jack) Chaillet, of Fairfax, VA.
  Jack, age 69, was a retired D.C. Police detective, who investigated 
many of the high-profile murder cases of the 1960's and '70's. He 
served 21\1/2\ years on the Metropolitan Police Department before he 
retired in 1978, serving most of his career as a detective in the 
Homicide Division.
  In 1977, he was a lead investigator in the Hanafi Muslim murders in 
which seven persons were slain and then D.C. Council member Marion 
Barry and two others were wounded after 12 Hanafis seized the District 
Building and two other facilities to avenge the death of members of 
their sect. Over two days, the group held 134 people hostage.
  Among hundreds of other cases, he and his partner were first on the 
scene of the car-bomb murder in 1976 at Sheridan Circle of Chile's 
former Ambassador to the United States, Orlando Letelier. This case was 
taken over by the FBI. In one of his cases involving the murder of a 
young female child, he collected the largest number of pieces of 
evidence ever gathered in a homicide case in D.C. including doorframes 
and bathtub.
  During his years in the Homicide Division, Mr. Chaillet developed a 
reputation as an investigator with patience and thoroughness in the 
vital collection of evidence. After retirement, he was told that many 
homicide detectives reviewed his reports for guidance in their cases 
and considered him a legend in homicide investigation. He was profiled, 
along with others, in a Washington Post weekend magazine article as one 
of the most outstanding D.C. homicide detectives. He worked many round-
the-clock days and nights knowing the case must be pursued while the 
trail was hot. There was no overtime pay and the reward was in knowing 
the case was closed and another criminal was taken off the streets.
  Mr. Chaillet helped organize and lectured in a homicide school 
sponsored by the D.C. Police Department which detectives from all parts 
of the country attend and, therefore, made his name known through 
departments across the U.S. In these classes, he had a flair for 
presentations in slide shows which kept the classes interesting, 
dramatic and shocking. He also lectured at Criminal Justice classes at 
several community colleges and universities.
  Prosecutors liked to work with him as they knew they could count on 
him to help make their case with his meticulous notebooks, eloquent 
speaking voice and unflappability. He developed many contacts in the 
street and at Lorton Reformatory who provided him with information on 
open cases even after his retirement.
  After retiring from the Police Department, he performed security work 
for Drug Fair, former Regency Hotel, and the National Press Building. 
He also did background investigations of Federal job applicants, field 
investigations for the Environmental protection Agency, and court 
security assignments for the U.S. Marshal's Office.
  He was a native of Washington and a graduate of Anacostia High 
School, where he was an outstanding football player and received the 
All-Metro Award for two consecutive years. He served in the Army as a 
military police officer in Germany.
  He was a Member of the American Legion, Almas Temple Shriners, 
Scottish Rite, Masons, and the Fraternal Order of Police. He was a 
football coach for the Camp Sprints (Maryland) Boys Club for many years 
and a volunteer for charitable golf tournaments sponsored by the 
Fraternal Order of Police and Heroes, Inc.
  Survivors include his wife, Marie, of Fairfax; his sons, Kurt of 
Fairfax and Kyle of Berryville, daughters-in-law Karolyn and Caroline; 
and one grandchild, Logan James as well as many other relatives and a 
host of friends in the metropolitan area.
  My sincerest condolences are offered to his family and 
friends.

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