[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 106 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4948-S4949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING SHERIFF RALPH LAMB

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today we honor the life and legacy 
of former Clark County Sheriff Ralph Lamb, whose passing signifies a 
great loss to Nevada. I send my condolences and prayers to his wife Rae 
and all of Mr. Lamb's family in this time of mourning. He was a man 
committed to his family, his country, his State, and his community. 
Although he will be sorely missed, his legendary influence throughout 
the Silver State will continue on.
  Mr. Lamb was born on April 10, 1927, in a small ranching community in 
Alamo. He was one of 11 children who helped on the family farm and 
worked in the local schoolhouse to support the family. At 11 years old, 
his father was killed in a rodeo accident, and he was taken in by his 
oldest brother Floyd Lamb. Mr. Lamb served in the Army during World War 
II in the Pacific Theater, later returning to Nevada. He became a Clark 
County deputy sheriff and soon after was named chief of detectives. In 
1954, he left the Clark County Sheriff's Department to form a private 
detective agency.
  It wasn't until 1958 that Mr. Lamb showed interest in returning to 
the department. He was named Clark County Sheriff in 1961 and served 
under this title for 18 years, an unprecedented amount of time that 
continues to be

[[Page S4949]]

the longest anyone has held the job. His unwavering dedication to the 
department and the community will always be remembered.
  Mr. Lamb truly strived to make the department the absolute best it 
could be. Throughout his tenure, organized crime was prevalent in the 
Las Vegas community. Mr. Lamb worked with the county commission to pass 
the ``work card law,'' requiring anyone working in the gaming industry 
to be fingerprinted, photographed, and to notify the sheriff if he or 
she moved jobs. This important piece of legislation helped 
significantly in fighting organized crime.
  He was also a key contributor in transitioning the Clark County 
Sheriff's Department into a more sophisticated force and in helping in 
its consolidation with the Las Vegas Police Department, creating 
stability in the law enforcement community with the present 
Metropolitan Police Department, Metro. His administration created the 
city's first SWAT team and brought the Las Vegas metropolitan area a 
modern crime lab, including a mobile crime lab. Metro was one of the 
first police agencies to utilize semiautomatic pistols and in-car 
computers, all driven by the hard work of Mr. Lamb. His many 
accomplishments will benefit future Metro officers for years to come.
  I extend my deepest sympathies to his family. We will always remember 
Mr. Lamb for his invaluable contributions to the local community. It is 
the brave men and women who serve in the local police department who 
keep our communities safe. These heroes selflessly put their lives on 
the line every day. Mr. Lamb's sacrifice and courage earn him a place 
among the outstanding men and women who have valiantly put their lives 
on the line to keep our communities safe, and his service will never be 
forgotten.
  Mr. Lamb fought to maintain only the highest level of excellence for 
the Clark County Sheriff's Department. The Southern Nevada community 
remains safer because of Mr. Lamb. I am honored to commend him for his 
hard work and invaluable contributions to the Silver State. Today, I 
join the Las Vegas metropolitan community and citizens of the Silver 
State to celebrate the life of an upstanding Nevadan, Sheriff Ralph 
Lamb.

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