[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E50]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING COMMANDER WILLIAM ``BILL'' ATKINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2004

  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Commander William 
Atkinson of the Merced County Sheriff's Department. Commander Atkinson 
has been with the department since July 6, 1976, when he began his 
career as a correctional officer. He was responsible for the overall 
security of the Merced County Rehabilitation Center.
  Commander Atkinson's work ethic was recognized, and he quickly moved 
up the chain of command. In 1979, he was promoted to the rank of 
corporal and was reassigned to the Merced County branch jail. After 
being assigned to the Merced County main jail in 1981, Commander 
Atkinson was responsible for supervising booking procedures and the 
health and welfare of the inmates. For 5 years, Commander Atkinson 
gathered statistics for a work furlough program and supervised a work-
in-lieu pilot program, which required him to submit the policy and 
procedure to the Merced County Board of Supervisors.
  Commander Atkinson continued to demonstrate his work ethic for the 
department and was assigned to the Main Jail Division as a facility 
manager in September 1995. He assumed all duties and responsibility for 
the division, as well as ensuring the facility was in compliance with 
the Board of Corrections guidelines, exceeding Health Department 
standards and State fire marshal inspections.
  In 1999, Commander Atkinson was nominated by his peers for Officer of 
the Year. His years of hard work for the Merced County Sheriff's 
Department did not go unrecognized, and his peers selected him as their 
1999 Officer of the Year. Soon after, he was promoted to sergeant and 
reassigned to the Sandy Mush Adult Correctional Facility as a shift 
supervisor, and then in May of 2001 he was promoted to senior sergeant. 
He displayed true dedication while supervising the Work Release/
Classification Unit and was responsible for reviewing applications for 
eligibility for work release programs.
  Finally, in November 2002, Commander Atkinson was promoted to his 
current rank and supervises the activities and employees of a 
correctional facility for the Merced County Sheriff's Department. As 
commander, he provides direction to subordinates and is responsible to 
take necessary action when alerted to emergencies or potentially 
dangerous situations.
  Commander Atkinson will retire on January 23, 2004. I ask all of my 
colleagues to help me thank Commander Atkinson for his devotion and 
loyalty to the Merced County Sheriff's Department, the State of 
California, and our Nation. I am honored to call Bill my friend, and I 
wish him a very happy retirement.

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