[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 12, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, as a young man, I came to Washington, DC, to 
go to school. I came back here to go to school, and I went to law 
school during the daytime. I worked at night as a police officer here 
in this Capitol complex. I was a Capitol police officer. I had a badge. 
I still have that as my souvenir. It has a very low number. I was one 
of the early police officers, I guess. I worked the night shift. I 
worked from 3 to 11. Now, I did not do anything very dangerous, and 
that is an understatement. I watched the doors, helped with the crowds 
sometimes. The most dangerous thing I did--and the thing I disliked the 
most--was directing traffic. That was kind of dangerous because in 
those days they had these streetcar tracks in the middle of 
Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue, and trucks, vehicles, 
would bounce around on those. But anyway, I did not do anything very 
dangerous.
  Every year for decades now, police officers and their families have 
come to Washington about this time of the year to honor those who have 
risked their lives and to remember those who gave their lives. Having 
had a little experience as a police officer, I recognize the sacrifice 
these men and women who come here have made.
  As I said, this is the time of year we honor those who have risked 
their lives and remember those who have given their lives during the 
past year. Three of those fearless officers we recognize this year 
serve in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. It is an 
outstanding organization. The work they do is intense, and I am very 
proud of the work they do. Three of these officers are here in the 
Capitol today.
  Last June, police officer Blake Penny was chasing another vehicle, 
thinking perhaps the person was armed. But the suspect's car flipped 
over, end over end, and landed on its side. Officer Penny did what any 
good police officer would do: He went to the car to see if everyone was 
OK. The passenger came out with gun blazing and shot Officer Penny. 
Fortunately, he did not kill him. He shot him just above the knee. The 
other bullets did not hit Officer Penny at all.
  It was then that Officer Penny's fellow patrolmen--Sergeant Steve 
Custer and Officer Christian Jackson--heard those frightening words 
over the radio that police officers hate to hear but hear them more 
often than they would like: ``Shots fired, officer down.'' They, of 
course, raced to the scene because one of theirs was down. In the 
meantime, even though he was unable to walk, Officer Penny courageously 
continued to exchange fire with the suspect.
  When Sergeant Custer and Officer Jackson got there, they threw 
themselves into the line of fire to administer first aid to Officer 
Penny and pull him into their patrol car. Officer Jackson drove his 
wounded partner to the hospital, and Sergeant Custer--a police officer 
for 36 years--stayed on the scene until backup arrived. Sadly, the 
suspect was killed in the exchange of fire.
  That is the work these brave police officers do every day.
  This week, the National Association of Police Organizations is 
honoring these brave officers with what is called the Top Cops Award. 
Custer, Jackson, and Penny are Top Cops. They have been designated so 
by their fellow police officers. This is a tribute given to just a 
select few of the countless men and women who each year go above and 
beyond the call of duty.
  Today, it is we who are honored to have them here in the Capitol with 
us. To Officer Blake Penny and his wife Marcia, Sergeant Steve Custer 
and his wife Marcela, and Officer Christian Jackson and his wife 
Barbara--they are Nevadans and Americans--Nevadans and Americans 
everywhere thank you brave police officers for your service and your 
sacrifice. We are fortunate to have people just like you protecting us 
every day, not only in the metropolitan area of Las Vegas but all over 
the country.
  We also remember the brave officers who tragically lost their lives 
this past year.
  In Nevada, last February, State trooper Kara Borgognone--a wife and 
mother of two--was investigating a bomb threat at a gas station in 
Spanish Springs, NV, when her car crashed. She died from her injuries. 
She was only 33 years old. Trooper Borgognone will be honored here in 
Washington this week at the annual National Police Week candlelight 
vigil for officers killed in the line of duty.
  Just last week, in Las Vegas, Las Vegas police officer James Manor--a 
husband and a brandnew father--was responding to a call in the same 
community where he grew up. With red lights blaring, he was going to a 
place where a woman was allegedly being beaten. He was struck by a 
drunk driver and killed. Officer Manor was 28 years old.
  This week, we pause to think of the selfless police officers who have 
fallen in the line of duty this past year and in years past and their 
loved ones who have lost a father, a mother, a son or a daughter, a 
husband or a wife, or even a friend. And we pause to thank those--just 
like these three brave officers who are here this morning--who each day 
go to work with a simple job--a simple job, Mr. President--to put their 
lives on the line to protect people they do not know.

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