[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 82 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2903-S2904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          National Police Week

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, today I am on the floor to talk about the 
men and women in uniform, our police officers who protect us every day. 
They are here in the Capitol protecting us in the Chamber. They are in 
Ohio protecting the citizens of Ohio, and they do it every day. They 
put their lives on the line for us in many cases.
  This is National Police Week, a week when tens of thousands of police 
officers come to Washington, DC. They come to the police memorial. It 
has been a wonderful week because I had the opportunity to meet with 
law enforcement officers from Ohio, today, yesterday, and the day 
before. We have seen them on the streets. We have seen them in uniform. 
Their opportunity to come here is to talk about the important issues 
that relate to our law enforcement but also to pay tribute to their 
fallen colleagues.
  Sadly, Ohio has lost its share of officers recently. Officers who 
have lost their lives in the line of duty include two so far this year 
and four last year.
  On February 2, Clermont County Detective Bill Brewer was shot and 
killed after responding to a call from a suicidal man who was armed at 
an apartment complex just east of Cincinnati, in Clermont County. 
Detective Brewer served at the sheriff's department for 20 years, and 
was widely respected.
  The funeral was amazing. There was an overwhelming number of people. 
Grateful citizens showed up and law enforcement from our entire region 
and, in fact, law enforcement from even other States. At his service I 
had the honor of presenting his widow and young son with a flag that 
had flown over the U.S. Capitol, in honor of him and in gratitude to 
his family.
  On that day, County Sheriff Steve Leahy said of Detective Brewer:

       He was an outstanding man. He was a good father, a good 
     husband, a good friend, a good employee. He's what this 
     country needs more of.

  I agree with Sheriff Leahy.
  On January 4, Colerain Township Police Officer Dale Woods was hit by 
a vehicle while working at the scene of an automobile accident, and he 
passed away 3 days later as a result of his injuries. Police Chief Mark 
Denney remembered Woods as a hero who once saved a baby inside a hot 
car and also ran into a burning building to save a blind woman. That is 
the type of selfless and courageous officer he was. He represented the 
best.
  Last July, Cleveland Patrol Officer Vu Nguyen, a 25-year veteran of 
the department, collapsed while taking part in police training 
exercises. Vu was known as a people person, someone who cared a lot for 
his fellow citizens and always went the extra mile to help anyone who 
asked. His family said that was the reason he became a police officer, 
because he wanted a job where he could help people. That is what police 
officers do.
  In June of last year, Mentor Police Officer Matthew Mazany was struck 
and killed by a hit-and-run driver while assisting another officer 
during a traffic stop. Officer Mazany had served with the Mentor Police 
Department for 14 years. He was beloved by his fellow officers, by his 
family and friends, and by his entire community.
  This morning I had the opportunity to visit the National Law 
Enforcement Officers Memorial, here in Washington, DC. I was able to 
see the inscribed names on the wall there of thousands of law 
enforcement officers we have lost over the years. If you haven't been 
down there, it is a powerful experience.
  There were also beautiful memorials set up around those walls with 
wreaths, flowers, photographs, magazine articles, newspaper articles, 
and other information about officers whom we lost in the last year, 
including these two officers from Westerville, OH, who were

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tragically murdered last year while serving their community and all of 
us.
  On February 10, 2018, Westerville Police Officers Anthony Morelli and 
Eric Joering were fatally shot while responding to a 911 call. Sadly, 
it was fatal. They had rushed to the scene. They had arrived to help. 
They were under fire. Officer Joering was killed at the scene. Officer 
Morelli died in surgery later that day.
  I have had the great honor of meeting the families of both of these 
fallen officers--amazing women and amazing kids. Linda Morelli and Jami 
Joering are incredibly strong women and incredibly strong mothers. I 
was able to express condolences and gratitude from all Ohioans for 
their husbands' service.
  The memorials I saw today were a moving tribute to those two police 
officers, two fallen officers who served their fellow Ohioans with 
honor. Soon their names will be inscribed on the police wall I talked 
about at the memorial. Their names will be inscribed there for the ages 
for all of us to see and so that we can all remember the ultimate 
sacrifice they and other officers have made for us.
  We continue to hold up their families and the families of the fallen. 
We continue to hold them up in our prayers and to show our support and 
express our enduring gratitude.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.