[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 181 (Monday, December 14, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





         RECOGNIZING THE GRAND ISLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, many talented Vermonters support local 
agencies charged with ensuring the safety of Vermont communities 
throughout the State, each and every day. Today I would like to 
recognize one such department--the Grand Isle County Sheriff's 
Department, which received two national Highway Safety Awards at last 
month's annual gathering of the International Association of Chiefs of 
Police in Chicago.
  Grand Isle County lies in the northwest reaches of Vermont, covering 
five towns and 85 square miles of land. It is actually a chain of 
islands surrounded by the waters of Lake Champlain, with commanding 
views of the Adirondacks to the west and the Green Mountains to the 
east. Its communities swell with summer visitors who come to enjoy the 
``beauty spot'' of the islands. While it is a rural area, Grand Isle 
County is also home to the busy Route 2 corridor that links the United 
States and Canada, a critical transportation route for commerce between 
the two countries. As such, Grand Isle provides unique challenges for 
Sheriff Ray Allen and his 13 sworn deputies who work to protect the 
safety of its visitors and residents while ensuring that traffic is not 
impeded.
  The Grand Isle Sheriff's Department was one of only three small 
sheriff agencies to be recognized with the National Law Enforcement 
Safety Challenge award, as noted by the Burlington Free Press. The 
award cited the department's excellence in traffic safety, with 
specific focus on impaired driving and speeding violations.
  Sheriff Allen's department was also honored with the National 
Sheriffs' Association's Top Traffic Safety Award, sharing that 
distinction with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office.
  These two awards are a notable achievement for a small department and 
in no small part due to Sheriff Allen's strong leadership. Sheriff 
Allen is the type of law enforcement officer who cares deeply about the 
communities he serves and the department he represents. Sheriff Allen 
was sworn into office in 2011, following 20 years of service as a 
deputy sheriff. When he is not tending to highways, he is tending to 
the family's well-known apple orchard.
  On the Grand Isle Sheriff's Department Web site, Sheriff Allen cites 
``the great working relationship with Local, State and Federal 
agencies'' that his department enjoys. This, we know, does not happen 
by accident, and such cooperation is a trademark of successful 
policing.
  ``We will strive to build upon the confidence and trust the citizens 
of Grand Isle County have placed upon us by developing strong 
relationships with the community and providing high quality, cost 
effective law enforcement services.'' This is Sheriff Allen's pledge, 
and one supported by those who work with him.
  With these awards, Sheriff Allen has done just that. He has made his 
department and his community proud. Congratulations, Sheriff Ray Allen.

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