[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          National Police Week

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, today is Peace Officers Memorial Day, 
when we honor the men and women of law enforcement.
  During Police Week, thousands of officers from across the Nation and 
the world travel here to Washington to remember their fallen comrades 
and rededicate themselves to protecting our communities. I welcome 
them, particularly the peace officers from the State of Kentucky. I 
look forward to visiting later today with members of the Louisville 
Metro Police Department. We owe them and the departments across the 
Commonwealth our heartfelt thanks for keeping the Bluegrass State safe 
and secure.
  I also wish to pay tribute today to members of Kentucky's law 
enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.
  Since Police Week last year, three of the Commonwealth's finest have 
fallen in the line of duty. Officer Scotty Hamilton, a 12-year veteran 
of the Pikeville Police Department, was fatally shot while on duty. The 
Hopkinsville Police Department lost Officer Phillip Meacham, who was 
killed while off duty by someone who was impersonating a police 
officer. Officer Rodney Smith, of the Hickman Police Department, 
drowned while on patrol when his vehicle was washed into the water 
during this spring's severe flooding. All of these men left behind 
spouses, children, and a Commonwealth indebted to them for their 
service.
  We also remember Sergeant David Ray Gibbs, of the Kentucky State 
Police, who was killed in a car crash in 2015 while he was on the way 
to his grandmother's funeral. Sergeant Gibbs's name was added this year 
to the National Police Memorial--a fitting tribute to a fine officer. 
His sacrifice and that of each of these heroes will not be forgotten.
  Finally, as we warmly welcome law enforcement from across the 
country, I would also like to especially thank the men and women of the 
U.S. Capitol Police. Each day, their vigilance protects Members of 
Congress, our staffs, and visitors from around the world. After the 
terrible events at the baseball park in Alexandria last June, we are 
all reminded of just how lucky we are to have them.