[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 110 (Friday, September 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING INDIANA STATE POLICE LIEUTENANT GARY DUDLEY
Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I today pay tribute to Indiana State Police
Lieutenant Gary Dudley for his decades of dedicated service to the
people of Indiana and his extraordinary kindness toward the families of
fallen Hoosier police officers. It is with a heavy heart and a deep
sense of gratitude that I honor the life of Lieutenant Dudley, who was
killed on August 22 when he was struck by an automobile while
participating in a charity bike ride to benefit the families of his
fellow officers who have died in the line of duty. Gary's dedication to
the families of our State kept him involved in public service up until
his death, doing his part to comfort and support Hoosiers as they
confront the loss of a loved one. I know he will be greatly missed.
Gary was a good and decent man who dedicated his life to serving
others. From his work at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy to his
involvement in the community, his career was filled with acts of
conscientious service on behalf of friends, family members, and
Hoosiers across Indiana. The contributions he made touched countless
lives.
Lieutenant Dudley started his State police career as a trooper in
1979 and was promoted to sergeant in 1991, when he transferred to the
training division. He was appointed commander of the Indiana State
Police Recruit Academy in 1993. He devoted all of his energy to
protecting and serving his community and to caring for his colleagues
and their families in their time of need. He is survived by his wife
Carolyn, his father Orsel Dudley, and a brother, Danny Dudley.
Like all of his colleagues in law enforcement, Lieutenant Dudley made
daily sacrifices to ensure the safety of our streets, our
neighborhoods, and our families. In an increasingly dangerous world, we
depend on brave men like Gary to protect us from violence and other
threats to our communities.
A lifelong Hoosier, he used his passion for cycling to help families
of police officers who died in the line of duty. The COPS charity ride,
which he started, was in its third year. Longtime friend Sergeant Dave
Bursten recalled Dudley's selfless commitment to friends and strangers
alike, saying ``Gary was very unique, beyond the proverbial `give you
the shirt off his back.' He'd give you his pants, he'd give you his
shoes, he'd give you his next to last dollar if you genuinely needed
it. He was always there to help people.'' It is a rare man who can make
such an impact on so many people over the course of one life. Hoosiers
will miss Gary as a friend, a community leader, and a tireless public
servant.
It is my sad duty to enter the name of Gary Dudley in the official
Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to the State of Indiana.
____________________