[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SERGEANT HENRY PRENDES MEMORIAL ACT OF 2006 INCREASES PENALTIES FOR COP 
                                KILLERS

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                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce the Sergeant Henry 
Prendes Memorial Act of 2006 today. This legislation will create a new 
Federal criminal offense for the killing, the attempt to kill or 
conspiring to kill, any public safety officer for a public agency that 
receives Federal funding. This would include State and local police 
officers, judicial officers, judicial employees, and firefighters
  Mr. Speaker, simply put, this legislation makes it a Federal crime to 
kill a public safety officer of any type. Under this legislation, a 
criminal convicted of the above charges will be punished by a fine and 
imprisonment for no less than 30 years, or for life, or sentenced to 
death.
  I have named this vitally important piece of legislation after a 
constituent of mine, SGT Henry Prendes. Sergeant Prendes of the Las 
Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on 
Wednesday, February 1, 2006.
  SGT Henry Prendes joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 
on February 26, 1991. He spent his first years patrolling the east Las 
Vegas neighborhood surrounding Charleston and Lamb Boulevards and was 
quickly promoted to Field Training Officer. On January 2, 1999, after 
working 1 year for the narcotics office as a detective, Henry Prendes 
was promoted to sergeant. As a sergeant he worked for the Crimes 
against Youth and Family Department, and later as Patrol Sergeant in 
the South West Area Command.
  Sergeant Prendes was a native of Nevada and graduated from Las Vegas 
High School where he was vice president of his senior class and captain 
of the football team. He is survived by his wife Dawn and two daughters 
from a previous marriage, Kylee and Brooke. Sergeant Prendes, along 
with his family, was a devoutly religious man. He engaged in bible 
study at home with his wife and mentored children in his spare time. 
Before he died, he was in the process of building a 17-acre youth camp 
in Montana called, Creation Camp Jesus.
  SGT Henry Prendes could be described as everyone's friend, always 
having a smile on his face, and always helping those in need. Some help 
people because they are police officers, but Henry was a police officer 
to help people.
  Mr. Speaker, the pride I feel today in introducing this vitally 
important piece of legislation is overshadowed by the sorry I feel for 
the entire Prendes family.

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