[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 72 (Thursday, May 26, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H4075-H4076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA POLICE DEPARTMENT ON HEROIC RESPONSE

  (Mr. FOLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

[[Page H4076]]

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, at 3:48 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, May 
22, an 8-year-old girl from my hometown of Lake Worth, Florida, was 
reported missing. She was thought to have been abducted by someone she 
knew and the Lake Worth Police Department quickly went into action.
  In coordination with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, an 
Amber Alert was issued at 7:30 a.m. and an all-points bulletin, 
including off-duty police, were called in to respond. Under the 
leadership of Deputy Chief Patrick Hampshire, more than 100 officers 
from five agencies responded within an hour.
  Sergeant Michael Hall was charged with searching for her at the city 
dump. Opening a large bin, Sergeant Hall found cement blocks, but on a 
second look he saw the faint shadow of a small hand. With the help of 
Corporal Robert Cresswell of the Palm Beach Sheriff's Department, 
Lieutenant Dave Matthews of the Lake Worth Police Department, Special 
Agent Mike Driscoll of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the 
searchers were able to get this young girl out from under these blocks 
and debris and save her life. SWAT Medic Earl Bakki gave her medical 
attention until she could get to the hospital.
  Mr. Speaker, these are true heroes, working as a team and using the 
tools they had been provided to save this young, precious life. I want 
to commend Chief William Smith and the members of the Lake Worth Police 
Department for their swift, heroic response on Sunday, as well as the 
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department, Lantana Police Department, Boca 
Raton Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for 
aiding in the search for this young girl.

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