[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 33 (Friday, February 22, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ROB GIORDANO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 22, 2019

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
accomplishments of Sheriff Rob Giordano on the occasion of his 
retirement. Sheriff Giordano has served with distinction over the 
course of his twenty-two-year career in law enforcement and was the 
leader the public needed during one of our region's most destructive 
wildfires to date.
  Born in Concord, California, Rob Giordano was working as a mechanic 
when he felt a calling to join law enforcement. He began his law 
enforcement career in 1989, serving as a police officer for the 
Pittsburg Police Department in Contra Costa County. Seven years later, 
Officer Giordano moved to Sonoma County to serve as a Deputy for the 
Sonoma County Sheriff's office. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2003, 
where he supervised the main office patrol, the Domestic Violence and 
Sexual Assault Unit, and the Violent Crimes Unit. Sergeant Giordano 
continued to prove himself as a leader and was promoted to Lieutenant 
only three years later, where he managed the Investigations Bureau and 
Internal Affairs Bureau, among others. Lieutenant Giordano was promoted 
again in 2012, this time to Captain of the Field Services Section. In 
2014, after eighteen years with the department, Captain Giordano was 
promoted to Assistant Sheriff.
  By August of 2017, Assistant Sheriff Giordano was promoted to Interim 
Sheriff when the seated sheriff stepped down for health reasons. His 
status as Sheriff was made official by the Board of Supervisors shortly 
thereafter, and he was appointed to serve the remainder of the previous 
Sheriff's term. Sheriff Giordano never sought the role, and in fact, he 
pledged to not seek election to the position following to the term's 
conclusion. He wanted to ensure continuity for the department and the 
public prior to the next election. However, Sheriff Giordano probably 
didn't expect was that within two months, his leadership significantly 
changed the way the community engages with the Sheriff's Office.
  On October 8, 2017, one of the most destructive fires in California 
history caused in Sonoma County. Upon receiving the news, Sheriff 
Giordano and his team sprung into action, not only saving lives but 
actively communicating with a frightened public. To many watching the 
events unfold from afar, Sheriff Giordano became the face of the 
community, holding press conferences daily while the fires were still 
being contained. His actions as a communicator, along with the office's 
increased use of social media not only helped calm a community in shock 
but also saved lives by sharing critical information in a timely 
manner. By the time the fires were contained, many called for Sheriff 
Giordano to forgo his initial pledge and seek election to continue on 
as the county's Sheriff. Sheriff Giordano remained committed to his 
pledge and instead focused on getting the Sheriff's Office ready for 
the transition to new leadership while continuing to build good will 
between the department and the public.
  Madam Speaker, Sheriff Giordano's law enforcement career is a 
sterling example of leadership that prioritizes service to the public 
above personal gain. Over the course of his time with the Sonoma County 
Sheriff's Office, he has not only improved the performance of the 
divisions and units he has overseen, but has also greatly improved the 
way the community engages with law enforcement. Therefore, please join 
me in honoring Sheriff Giordano on the occasion of his retirement and 
wishing him success on his future endeavors

                          ____________________