[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E769-E770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CHIEF LARRY SHIFLET: TEXAS LAWMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, Texas is known for its legendary Lawmen that 
bring criminals to justice. Today, I want to recognize the life of 
Assistant Chief Deputy Larry Shiflet. He is a lifetime member of what 
is referred to in my part of Texas as the Poe-leece. It is an informal 
organization made up of my long-time friends in the Texas law 
enforcement community. It is an honor to pay tribute to him today as he 
retires from public service.
  Larry Eugene Shiflet was born in Houston on Sept. 2, 1940 and was 
destined to be a Texas Lawman. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Air 
Force. After serving his country for four years, a friend got him a job 
in the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department.
  He got to do what most boys from Texas only dream about doing: being 
a real cowboy that protected railroad cars from bandits. He worked in 
the special investigative unit that tracked down thieves, drug 
smugglers and hobo stowaways. He later became the head of the 
investigative unit and had jurisdiction over four states. He worked for 
20 years with the railroad before retiring for the first time.
  After leaving the rail road police, he obtained additional police 
training and he was soon hired by the Harris County Precinct 4

[[Page E770]]

Constable's Office in Houston, Texas. His attitude as a deputy was to 
enforce the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law. Chief 
Shiflet's personality and professionalism earned him respect from both 
those he worked with and with those he arrested. He inspired many young 
deputies to strive for excellence and they credit his leadership as the 
reason for their professional success.
  His boss and close friend, Constable Ron Hickman, described Chief 
Shiflet as being a part of the backbone of the organization. ``Chief 
Shiflet's keen sense of community involvement, understanding of law 
enforcement responsibility, leadership skills, wisdom and experience 
have made him an indispensable part of our organization,'' said 
Hickman. ``His fair, but firm hand has provided a stalwart position 
that many of us have looked to for resolution during difficult times. I 
have had the distinct pleasure of working alongside Larry for 25 years 
and count him among my best friends.''
  Hickman also described Chief Shiflet as a man that is fully aware of 
the real dangers of police work, but at the same time is deathly afraid 
of snakes. Even after working for years along the Texas border for the 
railroad police, Hickman said that Chief Shiflet is still very likely 
to shoot somebody to get out of the way of a snake.
  Along the way during his career in the Constable's office, Chief 
Shiflet met his wife Cynthia Calvert when he worked in Atascocita. She 
was the editor of a local newspaper at the time and called him to ask 
about the violent crime wave of bicycle thefts in Kingwood. Chief 
Shiflet suggested that it would be best to discuss the bike thefts over 
a cup of coffee. That face to face meeting request was the beginning of 
a relationship that later led to their marriage.
  In addition to his law enforcement career, Chief Shiflet had a brief 
stint as an unofficial U.S. Ambassador to Ireland during a family 
vacation. At every pub his family stopped at for a meal and a drink, 
Chief Shiflet would have to defend America and President George W. 
Bush's foreign policies. As soon as the natives heard the warm, 
southern drawl in Chief Shiflet's voice, they knew he was from Texas 
and would launch into anti-American foreign policy tirades.
  Chief Shiflet patiently, respectfully and eloquently explained that 
they were wrong and America was right. As only a true American patriot 
would, Chief Shiflet spent his entire family vacation defending America 
and our President from Irish criticism.
  Ironically, even though he has spent 50 years in public service 
through the military and law enforcement, Chief Shiflet started his 
working career in the newspaper business and it looks like he will end 
it with newspapers. When he was 10 years old he delivered newspapers by 
hand from his bike for an old city paper called the Houston Press. In 
2007, he and his wife started a community newspaper company called the 
Tribune newspapers. Instead of delivering papers on a bicycle, he will 
soon be delivering issues of the Tribune from his red Corvette.
  As Chief Shiflet retires today from the Harris County Precinct 4 
Constable's Office, I am honored to recognize his lifetime of law 
enforcement service. For 46 years, he has put on a badge and a gun to 
protect and serve the people and communities that he loves. As he hangs 
up his gun for the last time today and turns in his badge, he can ride 
off into the sunset in his Corvette knowing that he is loved, respected 
and appreciated by so many.
  Happy Trails to you, Chief Shiflet. Thank you for a job well done and 
for all your hard work to make our Texas neighborhoods safer.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________