[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING OFFICER GRACIELA SANTILLAN JAMES AS HEROINE OF THE MONTH

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Graciela 
Santillan James as California 16th District's Heroine of the Month, in 
appreciation of her dedication to making our community a safer place 
for all.
  Each month, I recognize a Hero or Heroine of the Month from my 
district. The deserving individual is someone in the community who goes 
the extra mile to make a positive difference in the San Joaquin Valley. 
I believe it is fitting to recognize Officer Graciela Santillan James 
as October's Heroine of the Month because of her efforts to build 
important relationships between law enforcement and the Latino 
community. Community policing is essential for public safety, and 
Officer Santillan James has been instrumental in communicating with our 
Latino community.
  Officer Santillan James graduated from Dos Palos High School in 1992 
and acquired her Bachelors of Arts Degree from Saint Mary's College of 
California in 1996. After college, Officer James attended the 
California Highway Patrol Academy and graduated in September 2003. She 
was originally assigned to the San Jose CHP Area Office and was later 
transferred to the Fresno CHP Area Office. In April of 2009, Officer 
James was selected for the Central Division Traffic Management Center.
  She began her service in community policing after being selected for 
the Central Division El Protector Community Outreach Program in May of 
2012. El Protector is a traffic safety outreach program that is 
directed toward the Hispanic community, focusing on education through 
open discourse with the community. CHP officers with Hispanic ancestry 
deliver traffic safety education presentations, organize community 
events and serve as role models. Officer James is the Spanish speaking 
spokesperson for the El Protector Program and during her time there she 
has participated in numerous interviews with both television and radio 
outlets, including Telemundo and Univision.
  Along with serving in the El Protector Program, Officer James takes 
part in many other community organizations as well. She serves as the 
Vice-Chair for Centro La Familia Advocacy Services and is a member of 
the Fresno Chapter of the Latino Peace Officers Association, Cesar 
Chavez Concilio, and El Concilio de Fresno Inc. She has devoted her 
career to enhancing the relationship between the Hispanic community and 
the police force, as well as encouraging positive traffic safety 
behavior.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Officer 
Graciela Santillan James for receiving the Heroine of the Month award. 
Officer James's role in community policing through the Central Division 
El Protector Community Outreach Program demonstrates her devotion to 
the valley, and is the embodiment of what this award stands for.

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