[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 2, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S2092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO SAMUEL DEMAIO

 Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, today I recognize Samuel DeMaio, 
the dynamic director of the Newark Police Department. A driving force 
for reform, Sammy is one of those people who talks the talk, walks the 
walk, and does both to the benefit of the community at large.
  Samuel Anthony DeMaio was born on December 25, 1966, in Newark, where 
he was raised with his younger sister Sherri by his father Carmine, a 
Newark police officer, and his mother Marysue. In 1986, on what he 
would later say was ``one of the happiest days in my life,'' Sammy 
followed in his father's footsteps and began his career with the Newark 
Police Department at the age of 19.
  A hard worker from the start, Sammy proved his dedication and skill 
by consistently becoming the youngest officer to hold each position as 
he ascended the ranks of the Newark Police Department. His focus on 
transparency, officer training, and collaboration made our communities 
safer and more unified. It is that dedication and openness that helped 
set our community on its upward trajectory, and it is why his shoes 
will be so hard to fill.
  Sammy was in and of the community. He is a cop's cop who is respected 
by everyone in the department, from rank and file to top brass. Sammy 
is held in high esteem in the greater community, from the city council 
that unanimously voted to appoint him, to once-skeptical community 
leaders won over by his commitment to transparency and accountability.
  Sammy took great pride in collaborating with and incorporating the 
communities he policed. He began conducting the officers' roll call out 
on the street in an effort to change the way the officers and residents 
viewed each other. When I started Newark's Super Summer program, aimed 
at keeping kids out of trouble during the summer months, Sammy was 
right there with me. He founded the Annual Youth Public Safety Academy, 
a hands-on, joint project of the City of Newark's Police and Fire 
Departments in conjunction with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, 
where participants learned how to report crimes, prevent fires, and 
resist criminal activity.
  Sammy retired from the police department on February 21, 2014, after 
28 years on the Newark police force. These years of service were spent 
exclusively in New Jersey's largest municipal police department, and 
were marked by exemplary dedication to the best interests of the 
community and his fellow officers. When considering on the day of his 
retirement, Sammy said, ``This is probably the saddest day I'm going to 
have in my life.''
  It is an honor to formally recognize the contributions that Sammy 
DeMaio made to the citizens of Newark throughout his career in law 
enforcement, to thank him for his tremendous service, and to wish him 
happiness in a well-deserved retirement.

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