[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E921-E922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN HONOR OF THE LATE SERGEANT CHARLES H. COCHRANE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2016

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late NYPD Sergeant 
Charles H. Cochrane, whose contributions to New York City's civic life 
are being recognized by the renaming of the intersection of West 11th 
Street and Washington Street as Sgt. Charles H. Cochrane Way.
  On November 20, 1981, Sgt. Charles H. Cochrane became the first 
openly gay officer in the history of the New York City Police 
Department when he testified before a City Council committee 
considering a proposal to ban discrimination against homosexuals. Sgt. 
Cochrane spoke out in favor of the bill, saying ``I am very proud of 
being a New York City policeman. And I'm equally proud of being gay.'' 
At the time, Sgt. Cochrane was a fourteen year veteran of the NYPD. His 
declaration before the City Council committee was a brave

[[Page E922]]

statement and a strong condemnation of ignorance and bigotry faced by 
the LGBT community. Sgt. Cochrane's bravery, passion and drive for the 
just treatment of LGBT individuals, and specifically of his fellow LGBT 
law enforcement officials, motivated him to found The Gay Officers 
Action League (GOAL), an organization dedicated to advocating for 
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender law enforcement officers. Today, 
there are GOAL chapters in every major police department in the United 
States. Sergeant Cochrane passed away in 2008, but his legacy lives on 
in the community that he fought for and is epitomized by this street 
renaming in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the district where Sgt. Cochrane 
lived and worked and where he paved the way for countless other 
individuals and organizations to promote justice and equality within 
the law enforcement community. On this occasion, I reflect on the 
recent tragedy in Orlando and remind my colleagues that we have much 
work ahead of us to achieve an end to hate, bigotry and violence 
against the LGBT community, despite the strides that we have made as a 
society due to heroes like Sgt. Cochrane. As Sgt. Cochrane did, we must 
all stand up for tolerance and equality.
  I congratulate GOAL on this significant milestone and would like to 
thank the NYPD officers who spearheaded this initiative.

                          ____________________