[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 40 (Friday, March 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E581]]



        HONORING GULFPORT, FLORIDA POLICE CHIEF G. CURT WILLOCKS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 6, 2009

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to G. Curt 
Willocks, the Police Chief of Gulfport, Florida, who retires after 18 
years of service to the people of Gulfport and 38 years in law 
enforcement.
  Chief Willocks was selected to lead the Gulfport Police Department in 
January 1991 and since then made his priority the development of modern 
professional standards in law enforcement. Under his leadership, the 
department earned state accreditation in 2000 and was re-accredited in 
2003. He also led a department-wide effort to incorporate the newest 
technologies into the force's daily work. This includes bringing to 
Gulfport in-car, digital video recorders and computers.
  Chief Willocks also worked hard to improve the process for selecting 
and training new officers, ensuring that all officers received training 
that exceeded the state's minimum requirements, and raising the 
education standards for applicants. More than one-third of all Gulfport 
officers have a bachelor's degree.
  Before coming to Gulfport, Chief Willocks served for 20 years on the 
Boca Raton, Florida police force, retiring there as Deputy Chief. He 
has been active in many local and state-wide law enforcement 
organizations, including serving as President of the Tampa Bay Area 
Chiefs of Police Association, Chairman of the Pinellas County Police 
Standards Council, Director of the Florida Police Chief's Association, 
as a member of the Commission for Florida's Law Enforcement 
Accreditation, and on the Policy Board for the Florida Criminal Justice 
Executive Institute.
  Madam Speaker, Chief Willocks has served our community and our state 
well. He has instilled pride and the highest standards in the officers 
who protect our residents, their families and their places of work with 
dedication and professionalism. It is my hope that my colleagues join 
me today in thanking Chief G. Curt Willocks for a job well done.

                          ____________________