[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ED STRICKFADEN

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and pay 
tribute to an outstanding public servant, Ed Strickfaden. Today, the 
Idaho State Police will be naming a building after Ed, who served as 
the director of the Idaho State Police and was a 35-year veteran of the 
department. He is very deserving of this honor, and I congratulate him 
on this special day.
  Ed Strickfaden graduated from Council High School, located in a small 
rural town in southwestern Idaho. He honorably served in the U.S. Air 
Force before beginning his career with the Idaho State Police. In 1967, 
he was hired as a port of entry officer, and from there he worked his 
way up the ranks, serving in almost every region of the State.
  In 1980, he was promoted from a patrolman in the Lewiston area to a 
sergeant in Twin Falls. By 1984, he was district commander in Idaho 
Falls, then moving to the district commander position in Coeur d'Alene 
the following year.
  He served in the headquarters office beginning in 1991, first as a 
major in charge of field operations, then as a deputy superintendent of 
the Idaho State Police. He was appointed ISP superintendent by Gov. 
Phil Batt and served 4 years in that position prior to his appointment 
as director of the Department of Law Enforcement by Gov. Dirk 
Kempthorne in January 1999.
  Colonel Strickfaden undertook a major reorganization of the Idaho 
State Police, streamlining its functions and enhancing training 
throughout the department. He even initiated the name change to Idaho 
State Police, effective July 1, 2000.
  With his years of service, rising through the ranks and serving in 
all parts of Idaho, Colonel Strickfaden understood more than most what 
was needed and how to do it. He was a man of uncompromising integrity 
and had the utmost respect of those he led and the respect of the 
state's elected officials.
  Today, the Idaho State Police and the people of Idaho honor this 
humble man by putting his name on the building at ISP headquarters. It 
is a fitting tribute to a great leader and a wonderful human being. We 
are all very grateful for the many years of exemplary service Colonel 
Ed Strickfaden has provided to our great State.
  I would be remiss if I did not also mention Colonel Strickfaden's 
wonderful family and especially his wife Barbara for her strong support 
throughout Ed's career. Together, they have served the people of Idaho 
with great distinction.

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