[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 63 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5187-S5188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL SERVICE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this Sunday marks the 24th anniversary of 
Peace Officers' Memorial Day. Each year, tens of thousands of law 
enforcement officers from around the country

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gather in the Nation's Capital to honor their comrades lost in the line 
of duty. They are accompanied by wives, husbands, sons, and daughters, 
along with families of the fallen.
  It is a solemn occasion. It is a sacred occasion. It reminds us of 
the tremendous sacrifices our police officers make to keep us safe. 
Every day around the clock they are on the front lines defending our 
neighborhoods and protecting our lives, our homes, protecting our 
freedoms.
  When we need an officer to investigate a dark alley, quell a domestic 
dispute, to chase an armed suspect, or subdue a criminal, we call these 
dedicated professionals to save us from harm. And each and every time 
they take a risk that our distress call could be their last.
  I share very briefly a few stories of our proud heroes from Tennessee 
who, last year, gave the ultimate sacrifice.
  Officer Jason Michael Scott of Loudoun County was shot and died on 
March 12, 2004, after responding to a family dispute. The station got a 
call that a teenager was attacking his mother. Officer Scott was sent 
to the scene. As Officer Scott climbed out of his patrol car to walk up 
to the house, he was shot four times with a high-powered rifle. The 16-
year-old shooter then barricaded himself inside the home and exchanged 
gunfire with responding officers. The gunfight raged on for more than 
20 hours before the disturbed young man committed suicide. Officer 
Scott was only 24 years old. His first child, Jayden Nicole, was born 
11 days after his death. Our prayers are with the Scott family.
  Even routine calls can lead to unexpected tragedy. Officer Christy Jo 
Dedman of Nashville was helping a motorist on the side of Interstate 
40, not too far from my home, when a tractor trailer hit and killed 
her. In the flash of an instant, in one random moment, her life was 
taken.
  At the funeral of Officer Mark Vance in Bristol, TN, an officer 
remarked:

       You always know when you go out that you are taking a risk 
     but you do not think it is going to happen.

  Officer Vance was only 30 years old when he was shot and killed on a 
domestic violence call. Our prayers are with each and every member of 
his family.
  Tonight, the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial will hold a 
candlelight vigil to honor Officer Vance along with his fellow 
colleagues killed in the line of duty. Over 20,000 people are expected 
to attend the ceremony tonight. The names of the 153 heroes will be 
read, as will the names of 262 other fallen officers from years past.
  On Sunday, a memorial service will be held on the West Front of the 
Capitol. The President will be on hand to honor these heroes. I look 
forward to paying my respects to each of these courageous men and 
women.
  I will take a moment now to single out Tennessee's own who are 
included on this solemn roster: Sergeant Andy Thaddeus Bailey of 
Jackson; Officer Christy Jo Dedman of Nashville; Patrolman Timothy 
Howard Dunn of Shelby County; Patrolman J. Matthew Rittenhouse of 
Harriman; Deputy Sheriff Jason Michael Scott of Lenoir City; Patrolman 
Marlon Allen Titus of Memphis; and finally, Mark Edward Vance of 
Bristol.
  Our hearts go out to their families, friends, and colleagues who were 
made safer by their service. We all suffer their tragic loss. In their 
honor I pledge to keep working hard to show our commitment in the 
Senate.
  Last year, I cosponsored the Law Enforcement Safety Act, which the 
President signed into law. This legislation had been the No. 1 priority 
for our Nation's law enforcement community for years. Finally, last 
year, Congress passed it. It is now the law of the land.
  The new law allows current and retired police officers to carry a 
concealed weapon in any of the 50 States. America now has the added 
security of tens of thousands of trained and certified law enforcement 
officers serving and protecting us across the country and even into 
retirement.
  There are more than 870,000 sworn law enforcement officers now 
serving communities across America, the highest number ever. I thank 
each and every one of them and their families for their selfless 
courage, their sacrifice, and their dedication to public safety. Each 
of these officers is a hero. I honor them. Each of these officers has a 
family who deserves our appreciation and gratitude for their sacrifice. 
May God bless our women and men in blue.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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