[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING AMES, IOWA POLICE OFFICER CLINT HERTZ AND LT. JEFF BRINKLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2008

  Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ames, Iowa 
Police Officer Clint Hertz and Lt. Jeff Brinkley as recipients of The 
Sullivan Brothers' Award of Valor for saving another's life by risking 
their own.
   The Sullivan Brothers' Award of Valor Program was established in 
1977 to recognize peace officers and firefighters, who while serving in 
an official capacity, distinguished themselves by performing a heroic 
act while fully aware of a threat to his/her personal safety. The 
strict nomination process includes background investigations, and the 
final determination is made by the Governor of Iowa.
   On December 27, 2007, Lt. Brinkley and Officer Hertz responded to a 
911 call of a car on fire in the North Grand Mall parking lot. When Lt. 
Brinkley arrived, he realized the inside of the car was full of black 
smoke and the back half of the car was in flames. He quickly ran to the 
car and broke the passenger window, but because of the thickness of the 
smoke, he was unable to see if there were any passengers inside the 
car. Officer Hertz then arrived and also ran to the car to check for 
passengers and found a man trapped inside the car. Officer Hertz then 
opened the passenger-side door and Lt. Brinkley helped him pull the man 
to safety. Moments later the car was completely engulfed in flames.
   Lt. Brinkley's and Officer Hertz's bravery goes above and beyond 
what we are asked of as citizens of this country. Their courage 
illustrates the compassion of Iowans; willing to risk their own lives 
for the safety of their fellow citizens. For this I offer them my 
utmost congratulations and thanks.
   I commend Lt. Jeff Brinkley and Officer Clint Hertz for their 
heroism. I am honored to represent them in Congress and I wish them the 
best in their future service with the Ames Police Department.

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