[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT BRIAN DEGENHARDT, OFFICER THOMAS BARKER, AND 
         OFFICER JAMES CONLAN OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 17, 2007

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate members of the Chicago Police Department, including 
Sergeant Brian Degenhardt, Officer Thomas Barker, and Officer James 
Conlan, for receiving the ``2007 Humane Law Enforcement Award'' last 
week from The Humane Society of the United States and the National 
District Attorneys Association. This award was presented to Chicago's 
Police Department for the creation of its Animal Crimes Unit, which 
focuses on tackling illegal animal fighting in urban Chicago, where 
dogfighting has unfortunately flourished in recent years.
  With its innovative focus on animal abuse prosecutions, the Animal 
Crimes Unit of the Chicago Police Department, overseen by Sergeant 
Degenhardt, now leads the way in combating dogfighting and serves as a 
model for tackling this insidious crime across the Nation. Although 
only one single officer in the city used to address crimes against 
animals in the past, there are now more than 8 specially-trained 
officers within the Animal Crimes Unit. In 2007 alone, officers Thomas 
Barker and James Conlan logged more than 40 arrests related to 
dogfighting and animal abuse, and they recovered more than 100 abused 
dogs.
  But the accomplishments of the Unit don't stop there. When Sergeant 
Degenhardt was making the case for the creation of the Animal Crimes 
Unit, he analyzed arrest records for the city between July 2001 and 
July 2004 and discovered that nearly 70 percent of the 300 individuals 
arrested for animal crimes were also arrested for other felonies. The 
methods used by the Animal Crimes Unit have also led to a reduction in 
other types of criminal activities, including human violence and drug 
dealing.
  I am pleased to join The Humane Society of the United States and the 
National District Attorneys Association in congratulating these 
individuals in honor of their dedicated work on behalf of animals.

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