[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 18 (Thursday, February 2, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 2, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing the work of the Metropolitan 
Police Department, in particular the Second District, and the Office of 
the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Representatives from 
these agencies worked closely with D.C. residents on Belmont Road NW 
and the leadership of the Islamic Center of Washington to forge a 
remedy to a life-threatening situation that had hate-crime 
implications.
  These individuals provided extraordinary guidance and intervention in 
bringing closure to a situation that had exposed D.C. residents to 
racial and homophobic slurs, as well as threats of bodily harm, for 
more than five years.
  I therefore rise with pride to salute police officers Lt. Jerome M. 
Merrill, Sgt. Brian H. Brown, Sgt. Miguel Rodriguezgil, and Mr. James 
T. Towns, Community Engagement Director, with the Office of the 
Attorney General. In particular, I applaud the leadership efforts of 
Dr. Khouj, Imam, and Abassie Jarr-Koroma of the Islamic Center of 
Washington, and A. Mario Castillo, a resident of Belmont Road, who 
coordinated the teamwork on. this matter.
  This civic success story brings to mind a fitting quote attributed to 
the great American poet and writer Maya Angelou, ``It's good to 
remember that in crises, natural crises, human beings forget for a 
while their ignorance, their biases, their prejudices. For a little 
while, neighbors help neighbors and strangers help strangers.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
applauding my constituents and the law enforcement officers.

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