[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         A TRIBUTE TO SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF GARY PENROD

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2009

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to one of the most respected public servants in my district, San 
Bernardino County Sheriff Gary Penrod, who is stepping down this month 
after nearly 40 years protecting our citizens.
  A Southern California native, Gary Stephen Penrod graduated from 
Redlands Schools, worked as a U.S. Forest Service firefighter and is a 
U.S. Army veteran. But his life has been in law enforcement, and he has 
served in the sheriff's department since being deputized in 1971.
  Sheriff Penrod spent time on patrol in most of the vast desert and 
mountain reaches of San Bernardino County, and received regular 
promotions over the years. When the city of Hesperia incorporated in 
1988, the sheriff's department contracted to provide police services, 
and Gary Penrod became the first Hesperia Police Chief.
  By the time our former sheriff retired in 1994, Gary Penrod had been 
promoted to Deputy Chief. He easily defeated six other candidates and 
was sworn in as sheriff on Jan. 3, 1995. He has been reelected to three 
more four-year terms.
  When he first took office in 1994, San Bernardino County had a 
population of 774,000 people. Today, more than 2 million people live in 
the sheriff's jurisdiction. Deputies responded to 617,000 calls in 
1994, last year they had more than 1.2 million.
  Mr. Speaker, San Bernardino County was known in the past for having 
some colorful characters as our top law enforcer. Sheriff Penrod has 
had a reputation for quiet leadership, for helping the department 
achieve high recognition for professionalism, and for encouraging his 
deputies to stay on the cutting edge as law enforcement has modernized.
  During his tenure, Sheriff Penrod implemented community based 
policing and many innovative programs and staffing enhancements 
including: Crime Free Multi-Housing, Operation CleanSWEEP, Public 
Safety Internship Academy, Marijuana Eradication Team, Methamphetamine 
Lab Task Force, Narcotics Special Enforcement Teams and Gang 
Enforcement Units. Sheriff Penrod oversaw the merger with the San 
Bernardino Marshall's office and in 2005 he became Sheriff-Coroner of 
San Bernardino County.
  A highly respected leader, Sheriff Penrod is a member of San 
Bernardino County Children's Network, San Bernardino County Chiefs of 
Police and Sheriff's Association, California Police Officers' 
Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National 
Sheriffs' Association, Western State Sheriffs' Association, California 
State Coroners' Association, and the Governor's Corrections Standard 
Authority. He is a past president of the California State Sheriffs' 
Association.
  Although he is respected for his professionalism and progressive 
thinking, among his deputies Sheriff Penrod is most known as someone 
who always cares for the members of his department. Wounded deputies 
have often told of finding the sheriff by their bedside, personally 
promising to help them and their families.
  Madam Speaker, after 38 years as a law enforcement officer, Sheriff 
Penrod has decided to retire to spend more time with his wife Nancy and 
at his hobbies--horseback riding, raising cattle, fishing, camping and 
snow skiing. Please join me in thanking him for his years of service, 
and wishing him and Nancy success in all of their future endeavors.

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