[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 72 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H3464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National 
Police Week. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a Presidential 
proclamation that set aside May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial 
Day, and the week of May 15 an as National Police Week. Since that 
time, we have dedicated this week to honor those who have fallen in the 
line of duty.
  During this week, police officers and their families and people in 
our communities throughout the country come together to honor and 
remember those officers who have fallen in the line of duty. It's a 
week to honor their service, their sacrifice, and their life. But this 
week is also for the surviving family members and fellow officers of 
the fallen. It's a time of tribute, and it's a time of healing.
  Northeast Ohio has experienced the tragic loss of two police officers 
recently this year. At the end of his watch on March 15, 2010, Officer 
James Kerstetter of the Elyria Police Department was shot and killed in 
the line of duty. Just 2 days earlier, on March 13, Officer Thomas 
Patton of the Cleveland Heights Police Department collapsed and died 
while in pursuit of a suspect. Officers Kerstetter and Patton gave 
their lives in protection of their communities. These brave men knew 
the risks of the profession, but they also knew the rewards. Our 
policemen and women are part of the foundation of our communities. They 
risk it all as they walk the beat and patrol the streets, keeping our 
families and neighborhoods safe. Police officers go to work every day, 
committed to the oath that they take to serve and protect. And too 
often when officers fall, we are reminded of the costs and the 
sacrifice of the protection they provide us.
  But we must not only remember their service in times of loss. We must 
not only appreciate all that they do for us during this 1 week. We must 
appreciate their service and support them every week, every day. We 
must commit ourselves to the mission of supporting the service of our 
police and giving them the means to fulfill their oath. That's why this 
year and in previous years, I supported full funding to the Community 
Oriented Policing Services, known as the COPS program. Congress created 
COPS in the 1990s to address increasing crime rates, and it has 
succeeded in putting over 117,000 more police on the beat. COPS' 
funding had been cut significantly after the 1990s, but I am proud to 
say that I have fought to make sure that this funding is continually 
improved and restored.
  The Recovery Act that was passed and was supported by the FOP 
provided $1 billion for this competitive grant, aiding police forces 
that were facing drastic cuts in the face of a declining economy. There 
were 165 officers' jobs saved throughout Ohio, and in my district alone 
30 officers' positions were saved through COPS funding by the Recovery 
Act, and that doesn't even take into account all of us who were saved 
and safer because they were on the street.
  We must continue to fight for funding and support our police, just as 
they fight for us every day to keep us safe, just as Officer Kerstetter 
and Officer Patton fought to keep us safe and gave their lives to 
protect us, let us always be there for them.

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