[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1955-E1956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO NEOSHO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2007

  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a group of law 
enforcement officers whose quick thinking and courageous intervention 
saved lives and ended a tragic shooting spree earlier this summer in 
southwest Missouri. It was a shooting that left three people dead and 
several others wounded at the

[[Page E1956]]

First Congregational Church in Neosho, Mo., and it happened on August 
12th of this year.
  The events of that day startled the Nation, shocked the tight-knit 
town of Neosho, and devastated the small Micronesian community in the 
area from which the victims of these senseless and depraved acts of 
violence came. The shootings occurred during the early afternoon church 
services near downtown Neosho, with the first call for help coming at 
1:54 p.m. Within minutes, officers from the Neosho Police Department, 
the Newton County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri Highway Patrol were 
on the scene and organizing a plan to put this nightmare to an end.
  Officers arriving first were told a lone gunman had burst into the 
church and begun firing, severely injuring several people and possibly 
wounding a good deal more. The conditions of the victims were unknown. 
Several members of the congregation fled the church and the gunman 
ordered that other children take leave. But as many as 30 worshipers 
remained held at gunpoint at the moment the officers arrived.
  Neosho Police Chief David McCracken, who was in charge at the scene, 
issued a command decision that would bring a quick and positive end to 
situation. Within minutes, McCracken had organized an impromptu team of 
experienced officers from three different agencies schooled in special 
weapons and tactics. After hearing another gunshot from inside the 
church, the seven-man team entered the sanctuary through a side door 
into the building.
  Inside they found a 52-year-old man armed with two handguns--one of 
them pointed at the head of a female hostage. In a corner of the 
church, the gunman had gathered around 30 members of the congregation, 
and positioned them around him. Nearby lay three people mortally 
wounded, including two pastors and a deacon of the church, and five 
others clinging to life. As they entered the church, the gunman ordered 
the officers to leave. They told him to put down his weapon. And, 
perhaps recognizing his choice was either to comply with the demand or 
face a penalty similar to the one he imposed on his victims, he did 
just that.
  In those tense moments, officers made it clear they intended to use 
deadly force to end the standoff. The confrontation with officers 
lasted less than 10 minutes. Eiken Elam Saimon gave up his handguns and 
was taken into custody. He has been charged with multiple offenses, 
including three counts of capital murder. Found inside the church were 
Micronesian-American pastor, Kernel Rehobson, 43; his uncle, Intenson 
Rehobson, 44; and Kuhpes Jesse Ikosia, 53.

  Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said the quick action of the SWAT 
team saved lives, and I don't have any doubt that he's right. He 
believes, as I do, that many other residents and civic leaders in 
Newton County would have been lost without the team's rapid response 
and decisive decision-making.
  Let me add special praise to Neosho Police Chief McCracken, who--as I 
mentioned--was the commanding officer on the scene. With shots still 
being heard inside the church, Chief McCracken acted without hesitation 
to lead the SWAT team in and bring to an end the armed threat, 
preventing the loss of additional life. Though the events leading up to 
this tragedy will forever be the object of speculation and mystery, one 
thing we can be sure of is that having skilled officers and decisive 
leadership were essential to bringing a quick end to it.
  These men willfully put themselves in the line of fire to rescue 
their friends and neighbors. The team led by Chief McCracken consisted 
of Neosho Police Officer Cameron Kruse and Cpl. Donn Hall, Newton 
County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Chris Jennings, Sgt. David Trimble and 
Deputy Dale Brashers and Trooper ``Corky'' Burr of the Missouri State 
Highway Patrol.
  These are men of extraordinary valor, but several of their colleagues 
in the department are also worthy of mention as well. On March 16th of 
this year, Neosho City Police Sergeant Dan Cook tried to execute, what 
appeared at the time, a routine traffic stop. Unfortunately, the driver 
had a handgun ready and opened fire as Cook approached the car. 
Although Cook was hit in the arm, he returned to his vehicle and chased 
the assailant down for several miles. During the chase, one of his 
colleagues--Officer Michael Sharp--was wounded in the face. Another 
Missouri State Trooper, G. H. Hendrix, traded gunfire with the wanted 
man. Because of their determined pursuit, the man was later apprehended 
without further incident, arrested and booked on eight separate felony 
charges.
  Each day our peace officers face these dangers and each day they 
confront the people who would do harm to law-abiding citizens. Each of 
these men is a dedicated public servant who knows how to do his job, 
and was not afraid to use his training and expertise to end the awful 
tragedies with which they were presented.
  Facing a deranged gunman who has already shown the capacity to kill--
and the willingness to kill some more--is a situation that requires 
cool heads and professional training. Not a single one of these law 
enforcement officers would call himself a hero. But here today, I will 
suggest that's exactly what they are.
  To the praise already bestowed on them by the Governor, the state 
legislature, the Neosho City Council and county officials, I add a 
``well done and thank you'' for your dedication to your profession and 
for putting your lives on the line in defense of your community.

                          ____________________