[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4199-H4204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1645
              HONORING FOUR SLAIN OAKLAND POLICE OFFICERS

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 290) honoring the lives, and mourning the loss, 
of Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, 
and Officer John Hege, members of the Oakland Police Department in 
California who were brutally slain in the line of duty.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 290

       Whereas, since May 17, 1792, when Deputy Sheriff Isaac 
     Smith of the New York City Sheriffs Office was killed, more 
     than 18,270 Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
     officers have died in the line of duty;
       Whereas, on Saturday, March 21, 2009, in Oakland, 
     California, Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, 
     Sergeant Dan Sakai, and Officer John Hege, all of the Oakland 
     Police Department, were killed by gunfire while serving in 
     the line of duty;
       Whereas the senseless slaying of Sergeants Dunakin, Romans, 
     and Sakai, and Officer

[[Page H4200]]

     Hege represents the first multiple-fatality shooting incident 
     of law enforcement officers in the United States in more than 
     a year, and the first time in more than 15 years that 4 law 
     enforcement officers were killed by gunfire in the line of 
     duty in a single incident;
       Whereas the killing of Sergeants Dunakin, Romans, and 
     Sakai, and Officer Hege represents the deadliest incident 
     involving California public safety officers since the 
     infamous ``Newhall Incident'' occurred nearly 40 years ago in 
     Los Angeles County on April 6, 1970, when 4 California 
     highway patrolmen were killed in a gun battle with 2 heavily 
     armed suspects, an incident so traumatic and shocking to the 
     Nation that it galvanized the movement to reform police 
     training procedures, firearms use, and arrest techniques;
       Whereas the slaying of Sergeants Dunakin, Romans, and 
     Sakai, and Officer Hege serve as a reminder that the risks 
     assumed by police officers daily in serving and protecting 
     their communities continue to be enormous, ever present, and 
     lethal, even as the number of law enforcement officers killed 
     by gunfire in the United States has steadily declined over 
     the last 20 years;
       Whereas the bravery, devotion to duty, and love of 
     community of these fallen heroes has forever earned them a 
     place in the hearts and memories of the citizens they 
     willingly risked their lives to protect, an honor that comes 
     at enormous cost to the people who knew them best, loved them 
     most, and remember them simply as husbands, fathers, 
     brothers, sons, and friends;
       Whereas Sergeant Mark Dunakin of Tracy, California, was an 
     18-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department, a graduate 
     of Chabot College in Hayward, California, an experienced 
     homicide investigator, and according to his captain, ``a 
     cop's cop,'' who was ``absolutely committed to anything that 
     he leads'' and absolutely devoted to his wife Angela and 
     their 3 children;
       Whereas Sergeant Ervin ``Erv'' Romans of Danville, 
     California, was a 13-year veteran of the Oakland Police 
     Department, one of the most capable members of the Oakland 
     Police SWAT Team, and highly respected for his work in the 
     Narcotics Division of the Department, where he was 
     responsible for solving several major drug cases;
       Whereas Sergeant Daniel Sakai of Castro Valley, California, 
     was considered by his peers and supervisors as a rising star 
     on the Oakland Police SWAT Team, where he served as leader of 
     the entry team and was beloved for his dedication to serving 
     others, as evidenced by his previous work as a community 
     service officer at University of California, Berkeley, 
     escorting students around campus at night, and his tenure as 
     an English teacher in Japan, but most of all by his devotion 
     to his wife Jennifer and their young daughter;
       Whereas Officer John Hege of Concord, California, was a 10-
     year veteran of the Oakland Police Department who graduated 
     from St. Mary's College of California, taught at Tennyson 
     High School in Hayward, California, loved both his dog and 
     umpiring high school baseball games, and knew the incredible 
     joy of realizing his cherished dream of becoming a motorcycle 
     cop, and who could always be counted on by his colleagues to 
     be one of the first to respond to requests for assistance or 
     to cheerfully volunteer to help on departmental projects; and
       Whereas in the face of this horrible loss, the people of 
     Oakland, California, have come together and rededicated 
     themselves to making Oakland the safe and peaceful community 
     that Sergeants Dunakin, Romans, and Sakai, and Officer Hege 
     sacrificed their lives to preserve and defend: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives extends its 
     condolences to the families and loved ones of Oakland Police 
     Department Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, 
     Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege and stands in 
     solidarity with the people of Oakland, California, their 
     neighbors in the East Bay, and entire Bay Area community, as 
     they celebrate the lives, and mourn the loss, of these 4 
     remarkable and selfless heroes who represented the best of 
     their community and the future the people of Oakland are 
     determined to create for their children, grandchildren, and 
     generations to come.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  This resolution honors the lives and mourns the loss of four Oakland, 
California, police department officers. These honorable and brave 
officers were viciously slain by gunfire in the line of duty on 
Saturday, March 21, 2009. By way of this resolution, the House of 
Representatives extends its condolences to the families and loved ones 
of those police officers, and we join with the City of Oakland and the 
entire Bay Area in grieving the deaths of these exemplary public 
servants who gave their lives to protect the Oakland community.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, H. Res. 290. 
This resolution honors the lives of Oakland Police Department's 
Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, 
and Officer John Hege.
  Madam Speaker, just a little over 2 weeks ago on March 21, these 
peace officers were brutally slain while in the line of duty protecting 
the people of the State of California. These officers were valuable 
members of their police department, they were community leaders, and 
they were family men. They risked their lives every day to protect 
their fellow Californians, and at the end of the day, they were all 
killed for doing so.
  Sergeant Mark Dunakin was an 18-year veteran of the Oakland Police 
Department and resided in Tracy, California. According to his captain, 
the experienced homicide investigator was absolutely committed to every 
investigation he led. He leaves behind his wife Angela and their three 
small children.
  Sergeant Ervin Romans, ``Erv'' to his friends, was from Danville, 
California. He gave 13 years of service to the Oakland Police 
Department. He was a member of the police SWAT team and highly regarded 
for his work with the narcotics division in solving several complex 
drug cases in California.
  Sergeant Daniel Sakai of Castro Valley, California, was also a member 
of the police SWAT team. While he's remembered for his outstanding work 
on the SWAT team, he's also remembered and respected for his love of 
serving other people, most notably during his time as a community 
officer at the University of California in Berkeley. And he also taught 
English in Japan.
  He was a devoted husband and father to his wife Jennifer and their 
young daughter.
  Officer John Hege of Concord, California, was a 10-year veteran of 
the Oakland Police Department and was known by his colleagues for his 
willingness to help out with any department projects. Before joining 
the force, Officer Hege was a high school teacher and spent his free 
time umpiring high school baseball games.
  Madam Speaker, almost 40 years ago, four California Highway Patrolmen 
lost their lives in the line of duty in a single incident. Since that 
time, our Nation's law enforcement officers have made a considerable 
effort to reform police safety training programs and procedures. And 
because of that dedicated work over the past 20 years, we've seen a 
decrease in the number of police officers killed by gunfire.
  Although there has been great progress in protecting the safety of 
these men and women who wear the uniform, the death of these four 
officers serve as a reminder to the whole country that our Nation's law 
enforcement officials still face dangerous and potentially deadly 
situations every day. When a peace officer puts on a uniform in the 
morning, they represent everything that is good and right about our 
country.
  Today, we honor the lives and the commitment to protecting our 
community of these four peace officers.
  I urge the adoption of this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am proud now to yield to the author of 
this resolution, the distinguished gentlelady from Oakland, California, 
the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Ms. Barbara Lee, for as 
much time as she may consume.
  Ms. LEE of California. First, Chairman Conyers, let me thank you for 
your leadership and for helping to expedite the consideration of this 
resolution before us today. And let me commend the work of our staff--
Danielle Brown, Karas Patterson of the Judiciary Committee, and 
Christos Tsentas and Gregory Berry of my office--for their excellent 
work on this resolution.

[[Page H4201]]

  Also, I want to express my gratitude to Speaker Pelosi and Majority 
Leader Hoyer and all of those who were able to make sure that we were 
able to honor our fallen police officers today.
  I must say, the lives of four police officers who we lost were 
honored and were mourned at a memorial last week, and this memorial was 
so big--20,000 people--that we had to have the memorial service in the 
Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
  It's really with a very heavy heart that I introduce this resolution 
honoring their lives and mourning the losses of Sergeant Mark Dunakin, 
Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege. 
All were officers of the Oakland police force. They were brutally slain 
in the line of duty 10 days ago.
  Madam Speaker, the death of any law enforcement officer or first 
responder in the line of duty is a loss felt by so many people in so 
many communities. The tragic deaths of the heroes we honor in this 
resolution is no different. These wonderful men may have served and 
protected the people of Oakland, California, in my congressional 
district, but off duty they devoted their lives to improving the 
neighboring East Bay communities where they lived: Castro Valley, 
Danville, Tracy, and Concord, California. This resolution is 
cosponsored by the entire California Congressional Delegation, 
including Speaker Pelosi.
  So I just want to thank them all for their support, especially 
Congresswoman Tauscher and Congressman McNerney, each of whom 
represented one of the officers we honor today and with whom I worked 
very closely on this resolution.
  As I said earlier, the number of persons seeking to pay their 
respects to the fallen officers was so great, more than 20,000, that 
the memorial service was held at Oracle Arena. Among those in 
attendance were Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Feinstein, and Senator 
Boxer, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and California Attorney General Jerry 
Brown. They were joined by thousands of fellow police officers and 
elected officials from around the country. President Obama also sent 
his condolences.
  This is a small but fitting tribute, Madam Speaker, to four good men 
who routinely performed great deeds and who gave their lives in service 
to the people of Oakland, California. Their sacrifice increases by four 
the number of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of 
duty since May 17, 1792, when Deputy Sheriff Isaac Smith of the New 
York City Sheriff's Office was killed.
  According to the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Fund--an 
invaluable source, I might say, of historical and statistical 
information--that roll of honor now lists more than 18,270 names, each 
of which is engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial 
located in Washington, D.C.
  In May, 2010, the names of Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Ervin Romans, 
Daniel Sakai and Officer John Hege will be added to those of their 
fallen brothers and sisters.
  The senseless slayings of these officers represents the first 
multiple-fatality shooting incident in more than 1 year and the first 
time in more than 15 years that four law enforcement officers were 
killed by gunfire in the line of duty in a single incident.
  Madam Speaker, this tragedy also represents the deadliest incident 
involving California public safety officers since the infamous Newhall 
Incident, which occurred nearly 40 years ago in Los Angeles County on 
April 6, 1970, when four California Highway Patrolmen were killed in a 
gun battle with two heavily armed suspects. The Newhall Incident so 
traumatized and shocked the Nation that it galvanized the movement that 
led to the reform of police training procedures, firearms use, and 
arrest techniques.
  The slayings of these four officers remind us that the risks assumed 
by police officers daily in serving and protecting their communities 
continue to be enormous, ever-present, and, often times, lethal.
  Their deaths also challenge us to redouble our efforts to ensure that 
law enforcement personnel have the training, the resources, and 
assistance and support needed to make our community safer, not only for 
the people who live there, but also for the people who serve those 
communities.
  So, Madam Speaker, let me just say that the bravery, the devotion to 
duty, and the love of community of these fallen heroes has forever 
earned them a place in the hearts and memories of the citizens they 
willingly risked their lives to protect.
  But that honor comes at an enormous cost to the people who knew them 
best, who loved them most, and remember them simply as husbands, 
fathers, brothers, sons, and friends.
  Sergeant Dunakin of Tracy, California, was an 18-year veteran of the 
Oakland Police Department, a graduate of Chabot College in Hayward, an 
experienced homicide investigator. According to his captain, he was a 
``cop's cop,'' one who was ``absolutely committed to anything that he 
leads'' and absolutely devoted to his wife, Angela, and their three 
children.
  Sergeant Ervin Romans of Danville, California, a decorated former 
Marine Corps drill sergeant, was a 13-year veteran of the Oakland 
Police Department. He was also one of the ablest members of the Oakland 
Police SWAT Team, and was highly respected for his work in the 
narcotics division, where he was responsible for solving several major 
drug cases.
  In 1999, he was awarded the Oakland Police Department's highest 
honor, the Medal of Valor, for helping to save residents in a West 
Oakland fire. Sergeant Romans is survived by his widow and his three 
children.
  Sergeant Sakai of Castro Valley, California, was considered by his 
peers and supervisors as a rising star on the Oakland Police SWAT Team, 
where he served as leader of the entry team. He was beloved for his 
dedication to serving others, as evidenced by his previous work as a 
community service officer at the University of California, Berkeley, 
escorting students around campus at night, and by his tenure as an 
English teacher in Japan. He leaves to cherish his memory a wife and a 
young daughter.
  And then there is Officer John Hege of Concord, California. John was 
a 10-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department and a graduate of 
St. Mary's College in California. Before joining the department, he 
taught at Tennyson High School in Hayward. And how he loved both his 
dog and umpiring high school baseball teams was remarkable. Those who 
knew him well knew how happy he was to realize his dream of becoming a 
motorcycle cop.
  Officer Hege could always be counted on by his colleagues to be one 
of the first to respond to requests for assistance or to cheerfully 
volunteer to help on departmental projects. He will be greatly missed.
  Madam Speaker, in the face of this horrible loss and for the people 
of Oakland, California, we stand together in our resolve to make our 
city safer and peaceful, and we resolve that Sergeants Dunakin, Romans, 
Sakai, and Officer Hege, who sacrificed their lives, will be remembered 
and honored as those who really loved the community and did protect and 
defend it. Only by achieving our goals of peace, nonviolence, and 
resolutions of conflicts by peaceful means will we be able to achieve a 
truly peaceful community, and then repay the debt that we owe to these 
four remarkable human beings who made the supreme sacrifice to keep us 
safe.
  Let me close with a passage from President Obama's statement on the 
tragic loss of our police officers.

                              {time}  1700

  He said, ``Our Nation is grateful for the men and women of law 
enforcement who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our citizens 
and our neighborhoods. They risk their lives each day on our behalf and 
ask little in return. And although the danger of their work is well-
known, words still fail to explain the senseless violence that claims 
so many of them.
  ``As we honor their memories, I hope each of you will take comfort in 
knowing that their commitment to their fellow man will never be 
forgotten. We will always carry them in our hearts, and their legacy of 
service will inspire us as we work together toward a better Oakland, a 
better world.''
  Thank you, Chairman Conyers, for your assistance with this 
resolution.

                                              The White House,

                                   Washington, DC, March 27, 2009.
       I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of Sgt. 
     Mark Dunakin, Officer John

[[Page H4202]]

     Hege, Sgt. Ervin Romans, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai. Michelle and 
     I hold their families and your community in our thoughts and 
     prayers.
       Our Nation is grateful for the men and women of law 
     enforcement who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our 
     citizens and our neighborhoods. They risk their lives each 
     day on our behalf and ask little in return. And although the 
     danger of their work is well known, words still fail to 
     explain the senseless violence that claims so many of them.
       Sgt. Dunakin, Officer Hege, Sgt. Romans and Sgt. Sakai were 
     taken from us far too soon, and their loss reminds us that 
     the work to which they dedicated their lives remains undone.
       As we honor their memories, I hope each of you will take 
     comfort in knowing that their commitment to their fellow man 
     will never be forgotten. We will always carry them in our 
     hearts, and their legacy of service will inspire us as we 
     work together toward a better Oakland, a better world.
       Michelle and I offer our heartfelt sympathy. May their 
     sacrifices be rewarded with eternal peace.
                                                     Barack Obama.

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I'm honored now to yield 1 minute to the 
distinguished Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, the gentlewoman from 
California.
  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman for 
yielding, as I join my colleagues in commemorating and honoring the 
memory of the Oakland, California, police officers who were senselessly 
murdered while on duty. I associate myself with the remarks of 
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, author of this resolution, and join 
Congresswoman Tauscher and Congressman McNerney in again remembering 
these brave heroes.
  Madam Speaker, our colleague, Congresswoman Lee, spelled it out so 
very well, the senselessness of these deaths, the heroism of these 
police officers, and the quality of their lives. As elected officials, 
our first responsibility is to protect the American people, whether in 
their homes, their neighborhoods and communities, or to protect our 
country as a Nation. This is not possible without the heroic courage of 
our public safety officers in our country.
  Every day when they leave for work, they risk not coming home. I hope 
that their families don't think of that every day, but on a day in 
March, this fact was driven home very brutally to four families.
  Madam Speaker, a giant pall hangs over the Bay Area in California. 
These deaths have hit people very, very hard, as you would expect, and 
I think you can feel some of that in this Chamber this afternoon 
because of these personal losses and individuals who were killed, and 
also because of the threat that this is to every public safety officer 
in our country.
  I'm so proud to be able to speak about this resolution honoring the 
lives and mourning the deaths of four Oakland, California, Police 
Department officers. Their names have been mentioned, but I think they 
deserve being mentioned over and over again: Sergeant Mark Dunakin, 
Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege.
  I hope that it's a comfort to their families and to their friends 
that so many people throughout our country, starting with the President 
of the United States, the dignitaries that Congresswoman Lee said were 
at the service, and spoke, some of them, at the service. But probably 
more important than all of that are all of the people, the everyday 
people in the country, in Oakland, and the Bay Area, who feel this loss 
very, very personally.
  In our resolution that has been put forth by the committee, we talk 
about these four brave officers and that ``the senseless slayings of 
Sergeants Dunakin, Romans, and Sakai, and Officer Hege represents the 
first multiple-fatality shooting of law enforcement officers in the 
United States in more than a year.'' And, ``whereas the killing of'' 
these gentlemen represents the deadliest incident in California public 
safety since the Newhall Incident, which was referenced by 
Congresswoman Lee. That was a long time ago, 40 years ago, and these 
senseless killings ``serve as a reminder that the risks assumed by 
police officers daily in serving and protecting their communities 
continues to be enormous.''
  It recognizes the bravery, the devotion to duty, and the love of 
community of these fallen heroes, and that they have forever earned a 
place in the hearts and memories of the citizens they willingly risked 
their lives for.
  Congresswoman Lee went into the personal stories of Sergeant Dunakin, 
Sergeant Romans, Sergeant Sakai and Officer Hege. So I won't repeat 
that except to take pride in their personal lives, as well as their 
professional execution of their duties.
  And whereas, in this resolution, we say, ``in the face of this 
horrible loss, the people of Oakland, California, have come together 
and rededicated themselves to making Oakland'' a better place as the 
Congresswoman referenced, I also want her to know that our entire State 
feels their pain, prays for the families of those who were lost, and 
also extends our sympathy to all of them.
  I think I can say that without any fear of contradiction that, as 
Speaker of the House, I speak for all of us here when I say to those 
families, thank you, we're sorry, we're praying for you, and your loved 
ones will always have a place in our hearts and in history as heroes 
for our people.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. I'm pleased now to yield as much time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney), a cosponsor.
  Mr. McNERNEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 290, a resolution 
honoring the lives, and mourning the loss, of four Oakland police 
officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
  Madam Speaker, these were men of flesh and blood, with dreams and 
hopes and families, and their lives were cut short by senseless 
violence this month. I just want to say a few words about each one of 
them in honor of their sacrifice.
  Sergeant Mark Dunakin lived in my district and served in Oakland for 
18 years as a police officer, the last 10 of which as a sergeant in the 
criminal investigation division. His work investigating homicides made 
our streets safer and more secure. Sergeant Dunakin, from Tracy, 
California, leaves behind a wife and three children.
  Sergeant Ervin Romans, who was also a resident in my district, was 
considered one of the most skillful and knowledgeable members of the 
Oakland Police Department's SWAT team. Sergeant Romans, a former 
Marine, made a number of high-profile drug arrests during his tenure in 
the narcotics department. He was known for his dedication and work 
ethic. Sergeant Romans, a resident of Danville, also leaves behind a 
wife and three children.
  Sergeant Daniel Sakai, only 35 years young, studied forestry at UC 
Berkeley, where he also served as a campus community service officer. 
He began his dedication in service to community as a Boy Scout, 
eventually obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He leaves behind a wife 
and a young daughter who will miss him dearly.
  Officer John Hege recently achieved his dream of joining the 
department's motorcycle unit before that fateful Saturday. Before he 
joined the force, he was a teacher in Hayward. He continued to work 
with teens even after he became a police officer, serving as a high 
school baseball umpire. He was known for his cheerful attitude, 
friendly nature, and his eagerness to help those in need.
  Madam Speaker, these officers represented the best our society has to 
offer. They will be sorely missed, but their dedication to duty is an 
example for all of us. I join all of northern California, and the 
Nation, in mourning their loss and honoring these heroes.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to yield as much time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak), who represents 
the Upper Peninsula and is a former law enforcement person himself.
  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding to me.
  I rise in support of this resolution and to pay tribute to the four 
Oakland Police Department officers who were fatally shot in the line of 
duty on March 21.
  Sergeants Mark Dunakin, Ervin Romans, Daniel Sakai, and motorcycle 
officer John Hege were brutally murdered on a Saturday afternoon during 
the course of what began as a routine traffic stop and resulted in a 
massive manhunt.

[[Page H4203]]

  The shootings were the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement 
since 9/11 and the deadliest in California in 40 years. Although these 
tragic events occurred more than 2,000 miles from my district, the 
people of northern Michigan join Oakland, California, and the Nation in 
paying tribute to these true heroes.
  Sergeant Ervin Romans, who died of gunshot wounds in the second of 
the two shooting incidents on that day, was the son of Chester and 
Sueko Romans of Ironwood Township in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
  Family and friends in Ironwood and across the Upper Peninsula have, 
in recent days, shared fond memories of Sergeant Romans. Although he 
was living and working in California as a SWAT team leader for the 
Oakland Police Department, Sergeant Romans grew up in Ironwood, where 
he graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1983 before leaving 
to become a decorated Marine.
  After his service to our Nation in the Marine Corps and as an Oakland 
Housing Authority police officer, Romans dreamed of joining the Oakland 
Police Department. That dream came true in 1996. In 1999, Romans 
received the department's highest honor, the Medal of Valor, for 
helping save residents in a West Oakland fire.
  He was promoted to sergeant in 2005 and worked narcotics cases and on 
the crime-reduction team, which was worked to combat street-level 
narcotics problems and associated violence. Ervin Romans was also a 
firing range master sergeant.
  Sergeant Romans was one of the SWAT steam members who on March 21 
stormed the apartment where parolee and suspect Lovelle Mixon was 
hiding in a closet. Sergeant Romans was shot inside the apartment and 
died of gunshot wounds later that day.
  Ervin, or Erv to his family and friends, was a son, husband and 
father of three. He lived in Danville, California, with his wife, 
Laura, and three children, Kristina, Justin and Kayla.
  Childhood friends and family remaining in the Ironwood area will pay 
tribute to Sergeant Romans at a funeral service in Ironwood on April 4.
  As a former Escanaba City Police Officer and Michigan State Police 
Trooper, the loss of a law enforcement officer is especially painful. 
When I came to Congress, I founded the Law Enforcement Caucus, which 
exists to advocate for police officers and their families all across 
our country. This shooting reminds us how men and women in law 
enforcement face unknown dangers every day to keep us safe and our 
families safer.
  Like so many law enforcement officers across our country, Sergeants 
Romans, Dunakin, Sakai, and Officer Hege dedicated their lives to our 
safety. Madam Speaker, I join Congresswoman Lee and all of my 
colleagues in honoring these men for their service and sacrifice, and 
in offering the condolences of the U.S. House of Representatives to 
their families and friends.
  I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, not a day goes by that law enforcement officers do not 
face danger in the mission to keep us safe from crime, acts of 
violence, and even terrorism.
  As founder and a co-chairman of the Congressional Victims Rights 
Caucus, I know unfortunately peace officers are also often victims of 
criminal conduct. After all, they are the last strand of wire in the 
fence between the law and the lawless.
  Over my years as a prosecutor and a judge, I have known several 
police officers who gave their lives for the rest of us. Today, we are 
grateful for the families and to the officers of California who 
selflessly gave their lives while protecting the rest of us: Sergeant 
Dunakin, Sergeant Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege.
  Madam Speaker, on May 15, on the West side of the Capitol grounds, we 
honor all peace officers that have been killed in the line of duty in 
the United States. There will be thousands of peace officers from all 
over the United States, and the families of the slain will be not far 
from where we are today to honor those. This year we will honor four 
more from Oakland, California.
  I would like to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Lee) for introducing this resolution and the chairman for 
expediting this legislation to the House.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, today, the House of Representatives 
considered H. Res. 290, a resolution honoring the lives and mourning 
the tragic loss of four Oakland police officers who were killed in the 
line of duty. I commend the valor of Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant 
Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege. These men 
were not just police officers, but fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, 
and friends. My heart goes out to those closest to them, that they may 
find comfort and peace in their friends and families.
  Police officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, 
and their heroic deeds do not go unnoticed by their communities. 
Candlelight vigils and prayer ceremonies throughout California as well 
as the huge swell of public emotion at the passing of these four brave 
police officers show that Americans understand and value the sacrifices 
made by police officers.
  I stand in solidarity with these supporters, and vow that we will not 
forget these four brave men. We will keep them in our hearts as we 
strive to make cities and communities safer and bring crime rates down. 
We will keep them in our minds as we attempt to do a better job of 
reforming convicts and rehabilitating parolees. As we consider this 
resolution today, let us rededicate ourselves to the protection of our 
communities and our law enforcement, so that the deaths of these four 
men will not have been in vain.
  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 290: 
Honoring the lives and mourning the loss of Sergeant Mark Dunakin, 
Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege, 
members of the Oakland, California Police Department.
  On March 21, 2009, Sergeants Dunakin, Romans, Sakai, and Officer Hege 
were shot and killed in the line of duty, giving their lives to protect 
our community. This tragedy serves as a reminder of the great 
sacrifices police officers make to protect us, and underscores the need 
to end violent crime in our nation.
  I extend my deepest gratitude for the service of Sergeants Dunakin, 
Romans, Sakai, and Officer Hege to the Oakland Police Department and my 
heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and our community. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my good friend from 
Oakland, Ms. Barbara Lee, for her tireless service and for introducing 
this resolution.
  I rise today to honor the lives of four Oakland Police Officers, who 
were tragically killed in the line of duty on March 21, 2009. Officer 
John R. Hege, Sergeant Mark Dunakin, SWAT Sergeant Ervin Romans, and 
Sergeant Daniel Sakai.
  I want to take a few moments to honor Officer Hege, a resident of 
Concord and California's Tenth Congressional district.
  Throughout his life, John nurtured a love of sports and the outdoors. 
To his friends, he was ``outgoing and friendly, an honest and fair-
minded man.'' The Contra Costa Times described him ``as a good-natured 
sports fan with a hearty laugh, nonstop energy and a heart of gold.''
  John was foremost a public servant. He attended Piedmont schools 
growing up, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and graduated from Saint 
Mary's College in Moraga in 1990. He began his career as a high school 
teacher, coaching and officiating basketball and football. He joined 
the Oakland Police Department Reserves in 1993 and became a full-time 
officer in 1999.
  He continued his passion for teaching as a police cadet instructor. 
Officer Hege's lifetime of service continued until the final moments of 
his life. He underwent surgery to donate his organs to save the lives 
of four others. He is survived by his parents, John and Tamra Hege.
  The brazen assault on the Oakland Police Officers is a tragic 
reminder of the lengths our police officers go to keep our families and 
communities safe. I ask all Americans to join us in honoring the life 
and achievements of Officer John R. Hege and his fellow officers.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I yield back the remainder of my time and urge the 
adoption of this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 290.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.

[[Page H4204]]

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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