[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 39 (Thursday, March 10, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                REMEMBERING LIEUTENANT JAMES J. GERAGHTY

 Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I join with people across my 
State of New Hampshire in mourning the loss of State police Lieutenant 
James J. Geraghty, who passed away late last month after a valiant 
battle with cancer. He devoted his career to public service, serving in 
the U.S. Army, later as a police officer in Hudson, NH, and for the 
last 24 years as a State trooper.
  ``His priorities in life were well defined,'' said his friend and 
colleague, State police Lieutenant John Marasco. ``He was committed to 
his family, he was committed to this organization, and he was committed 
as the lieutenant overseeing the Major Crimes Unit to delivering 
justice to victims, many of whom were victims of homicide and relied on 
his voice to bring that justice to them.''
  Jim, as he was known to family and friends, was born in Boston, MA, 
and grew up in Tewksbury. He attended St. John's Prep in Danvers, MA, 
and the University of Lowell before joining the U.S. Army in 1984. 
After assignments at U.S. Army bases in the southern United States and 
Germany, his love of New England motivated him to end his military 
service and return home for what would be a long career in law 
enforcement. He began his service with the police department in Hudson, 
NH, and went on to serve for two decades as a State trooper, respected 
by his colleagues as a model officer, mentor, and leader. He was 
promoted to detective sergeant in 2008 and took command of the major 
crimes unit. He retired in 2015.
  Jim was deeply devoted to his wife of 30 years, Valerie, and their 
four adult children, Jimmy, Colleen, Katie, and Erin. Friends say that 
his mantra was ``family first.'' He cherished annual family vacations 
in Wells, ME. Instead of talking about himself, he would often speak 
glowingly about the achievements of his children.
  At the 2015 Congressional Achievement Awards ceremony, Lieutenant 
Geraghty received a richly deserved Lifetime Achievement Award--the 
capstone of a distinguished career in public service. An inscription at 
Arlington National Cemetery accurately describes his service both in 
the military and in law enforcement: ``Not for fame or reward, nor 
lured by ambition or goaded by necessity, but in simple obedience to 
duty.''
  I would like to express my gratitude to New Hampshire State police 
Lieutenant James Geraghty for his service and my sincere condolences to 
his beloved wife and family.

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