[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.

                          ____________________