[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 19, 2007)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1927] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] TRIBUTE TO OFFICER JOHN BOGA ______ HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Officer John Boga on his retirement from the City of Newark, California, after serving over 20 years as a police officer and sergeant and over 25 years as a member of the Newark Police Department. Officer Boga began his career with the Newark Police Department as a reserve police officer in April 1982 and served in this capacity until his promotion to the rank of police officer on June 1, 1987. Officer Boga was most recently assigned to his third term as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Officer. As a D.A.R.E. Officer, Boga has taught a structured D.A.R.E. curriculum to the students in various grades of the eight public elementary schools and one private elementary school in Newark. In 2001, he also became a Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) instructor, which he also taught at the elementary school level. In addition to his D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. duties, Officer Boga has also served as an executive board member of the California D.A.R.E. Officers Association, a member of the hostage negotiation and trauma support teams, a member of the California Association of Hostage Negotiators, field training officer, and citizen police academy instructor. He had also held numerous assignments during his tenure including patrol officer, school resource officer, tri-city gang task force officer, Alameda County gang task force officer, reserve coordinator, and first aid/CPR instructor. Officer Boga has been recognized with many awards, the most recent being the police department's Distinguished Service Medal for his devotion to the department, the community, and the youth in Newark. He was also chosen to become the department's Police Officer of the Year in 1992. Officer Boga was selected as the 2006 California D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year by the members of the California D.A.R.E. Officers Association for his hard work and dedication to the D.A.R.E. program. He was also named the City of Newark Employee of the Year for 2005 for his commitment to the city and for all of his hard work and positive attitude. I join the Newark Police Department in thanking Officer John Boga for his years of commendable service and devotion to the City of Newark and the community. ____________________