[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 126 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1692-E1693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO OFFICER JAMES HOWES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2007

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who has 
committed his life to public service. Officer James Howes of the Santa 
Cruz Police Department in Santa Cruz, California will retire on 
September 6, 2007, after more than 26 years of personal sacrifice for 
his community and his country.
  Officer Howes was born in Monterey, California and has since spent 
most of his life in the Monterey Bay area. A graduate of Watsonville 
High School, he later went on to study at Cabrillo Community College 
and the University of Phoenix, where he earned a degree in Business 
Management.
  As a young man, Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to 
defend our homeland. Stationed in Camp Pendleton, California and 
Okinawa, Japan, he attained the rank of Sergeant while proudly serving 
our nation.
  Throughout his 26-year career at the Santa Cruz Police Department, 
Officer Howes has protected the public as a Patrol Officer, Field 
Training Officer, and as a DUI Enforcement Officer, where he helped 
keep dangerous drunk drivers off of our roads. For 8 years, Officer 
Howes has served as the Santa Cruz Police Department's Community 
Service Specialist. He has helped to empower his community and has 
coordinated the National Night Out, the Citizen's Police Academy, and 
Business and Neighborhood Watch Programs.
  Serving as a member of law enforcement is never easy. Each time a 
police officer such as

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Officer Howes reports to the scene, they can rarely know what to 
expect. The sacrifices they make are shared with their families, who 
have the same uncertainty every time these brave men and women leave 
for work. I would therefore like to recognize the sacrifice that 
Officer Howes' family has also made during his years of service. 
Officer Howes and his family have certainly made a significant 
contribution to the city of Santa Cruz, and I truly appreciate their 
efforts.
  In addition to the outstanding work he has done as a member of law 
enforcement, Officer Howes regularly serves his community while off 
duty. He teaches vocational programs to local high school and college 
students, placing an emphasis on law enforcement and career guidance. 
Through his great efforts to create a better Santa Cruz, Officer Howes 
has garnered the admiration of his community, and in 2006, was chosen 
as a Community Hero by the Santa Cruz County Community Assessment 
Project through the United Way. The service and dedication that Officer 
Howes has shown throughout the course of his career further proves that 
he is a hero.
  Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate 
Officer James Howes for his many years of commitment and service to the 
city of Santa Cruz and to the people who live there. Although he will 
retire soon, I am sure that his commitment to the city of Santa Cruz 
will last throughout his life.

                          ____________________