[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING OFFICER DAVID LOAR AND OFFICER CHRISTOPHER SKINNER AS 
                  RECIPIENTS OF THE 2009 TOP COP AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2009

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today 
to recognize Officers David Loar and Christopher Skinner of Kansas 
City, Missouri, as recipients of the 2009 Top COPS Award. This award is 
presented to outstanding law enforcement officers by the National 
Association of Police Organizations for acts that go above and beyond 
the call of duty. Officers Loar and Skinner were nominated for this 
award by their peers for actions they undertook in helping a 70 year 
old homeless man.
  Officer Loar and Officer Skinner first met Harold, a retired trucker, 
on New Year's Eve in 2008 in the underground parking garage of a local 
shopping center in my district. Harold, who had lost his home in a 
divorce, also had his identification papers stolen while staying at a 
homeless shelter. Unable to get back on his feet, Harold was living in 
the underground garage. Upon meeting Harold, Officer Loar and Officer 
Skinner made the decision to help this elderly man reclaim his life.
  Officer Loar and Officer Skinner worked to help Harold obtain a birth 
certificate, a Social Security card, photo identification, as well as a 
post office box. They brought him sandwiches and checked on him during 
the cold winter nights. Upon some investigation, Officers Loar and 
Skinner found that Harold was eligible for Social Security and Medicare 
benefits, and this enabled Harold to collect almost $10,000 in back 
benefits. Eventually, Officer Loar and Officer Skinner helped Harold 
find an apartment, and even paid for Harold to stay in a hotel until 
the apartment unit was ready for him to move into.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Officer Loar and Officer 
Skinner for their commitment to helping Harold. These two police 
officers stand as an example to all in the Fifth District of Missouri, 
as well as the rest of the Nation. Many of us walk by homeless men and 
women everyday, yet few take the time to stop. Officer Loar and Officer 
Skinner walked into the parking garage that cold New Year's Eve and 
made the decision to help; they made the decision to be one of the few 
to change the course of someone's life. Officer Loar and Officer 
Skinner showed true compassion when they decided to help a stranger 
fight his way back off the streets. It is for these commendable actions 
that Officer Loar and Officer Skinner were awarded the 2009 Top COPS 
Award. I urge my colleagues of the 111th Congress to join me in 
congratulating Officer Loar and Officer Skinner on their well-deserved 
honor.

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