[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 141 (Monday, September 19, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF OFFICER MIKE BRUNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 19, 2016

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my 
constituent, Officer Michael ``Mike'' Todd Brunson, a master police 
officer in the Winchester Police Department. Officer Brunson passed 
away on September 11th, 2016 at the age of 48. He will be sorely missed 
by his family, his fellow officers, and his entire community.
  Mike Brunson was sworn into the Winchester Police Department on 
February 10, 1995 and was promoted to the position of Master Police 
Officer in September of 2006. Officer Brunson was a respected and well 
known member of our community. In addition to protecting his neighbors, 
Mike helped found his department's community policing unit, and even 
served as a counselor at the Kids and Cops Camp. Officer Brunson was a 
member of the SWAT Team, a firearms instructor and field training 
officer. He also received a Meritorious Action Award and a Valor Award 
in 2014 for risking his life to enter a burning home in search for a 2 
year old boy.
  Winchester Police Chief Kevin Sanzenbacher in his statement said that 
Mike ``was a great person, a great father, grandfather, husband, son 
and friend. He will be truly missed.'' Lt. J. Cornwell of the Frederick 
County Sheriffs Office had Officer Brunson as his first field training 
officer and said ``he was a very courteous and nice man who was always 
willing to pass on information that he had'' and that it was a ``shame 
to lose him, especially at that young age.'' Officer Mike Brunson is 
survived by his mother, Carol D. Rockwell, his wife, Kimberly Brunson; 
his daughter Elizabeth Thurman and her husband Jesse, his daughter 
Katherine Brunson; a step-daughter, Eve Neal, and step-son, Stephen 
Neal-Crowe; as well as his two grandchildren Ryleigh Grace and Oliver 
James Thurman.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the life 
of Officer Michael ``Mike'' Todd Brunson. May he rest in peace, and his 
family be comforted.

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