[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E13]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING SERGEANT RICK SMIEDENDORF

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 12, 2010

  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sergeant Rick 
Smiedendorf of the St. Joseph Police Department who is retiring after 
31 years of outstanding service. Sergeant Smiedendorf has had a deep 
and lasting impact on the St. Joseph community, especially in his work 
with young people.
  A native of Niles, Michigan, Sergeant Smiedendorf is a graduate of 
Western Michigan University and began his career in St. Joseph in 1979. 
Rick was a tireless advocate in the area of crime prevention. He 
started a number of programs in the department, including the Crime 
Prevention Unit, the Neighborhood Watch program, the Dedicated Officer 
Program in the elementary schools, and the Community Child Watch. 
Generations of children knew him as Officer Rick, or Sergeant Rick, or 
McGruff the Crime Dog.
  Throughout his career, Sergeant Rick connected prevention and law 
enforcement programs to the residents of Southwest Michigan. He helped 
organize the local National Night Out program, and the Community 
Emergency Response Team. He was named Officer of Year twice by the 
Benton Harbor St. Joseph Exchange Club, and was recently named 
Outstanding Crime Prevention Practioner of the Year by the West 
Michigan Crime Prevention Association.
  Southwest Michigan is very fortunate Rick Smiedendorf stayed close to 
home. Thousands of people have been impacted by his hard work and 
commitment to crime prevention and keeping the public safe. I salute 
his efforts and thank him for his service in my hometown of St. Joseph. 
I wish Sergeant Rick all the best in the future.

                          ____________________