[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 143 (Monday, September 9, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Tribute to Dayton Police Officers

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I rise to honor six brave Ohioans--Sergeant 
William C. Knight, Officers Brian Rolfes, David Denlinger, Vincent 
Carter, Ryan Nabel, and Jeremy Campbell.
  Last month, on Sunday, August 4, the people in my State woke up to 
devastating news: A shooter had opened fire overnight--at about 1 
o'clock that Sunday morning--in Dayton. In 31 seconds, a shooter had 
fired 40 bullets. He had taken the lives of 9 Ohioans and had injured 
27 more. This was another senseless tragedy caused by gun violence. As 
awful as it was, it could have been even worse had it not been for the 
bravery and skill of the officers I just mentioned.
  While others ran from danger, these men ran toward it. They stopped 
the shooter within 31 or 32 seconds after the first shot was fired. 
They saved, certainly, dozens of lives as the shooter was about to go 
into a very crowded nightclub. Had they not gotten to him in less than 
a minute, the shooter would have entered the doorway he was headed 
toward of the Dayton institution Ned Peppers, which was filled with 
Ohioans who were out on a Saturday night.
  Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said: ``Had this individual made it 
through the doorway of Ned Peppers with that level of weaponry, there 
would have been catastrophic injuries and loss of life.'' That didn't 
happen because these dedicated public servants did the job they signed 
up to do--to protect the people they serve.
  Over the past month, as we have mourned those Ohioans we have lost, 
we have also seen the incredible strength and solidarity of the Dayton 
community. People from all over the city have come together to support 
the families of the victims and to support the law enforcement officers 
and officials who threw themselves in harm's way to protect their 
friends and neighbors.
  Chief Biehl reported that the Dayton Police Department has received 
hundreds of emails, social media messages, and thank you cards--all 
from people thanking them for what they have done for this city.
  Dayton has faced so many challenges this year. Each time, these 
officers and the entire department have risen to the occasion. They 
kept the public safe when a KKK group held a hate rally, and they 
helped residents after devastating tornados hit this summer. Now they 
are dealing with this awful gun violence and all kinds of tragedies 
that have fallen on this community.
  I thank my friend Mayor Whaley, who is here in Washington today to 
help honor these officers and who has truly held this community 
together. I think she put it best when she said that Dayton has had, 
``as I like to term it, one hell of a summer, and you all have been on 
the front lines of it.''
  I met these officers at the Miami Valley Hospital 3 days after the 
shooting. The President of the United States was there to honor these 
officers and to see the victims and some of the injured Daytonians who 
were victims of the shooting and to see their families.
  I said to the President that the best way he can honor these police 
officers is to bring the Senate back into session and pass universal 
background checks as 93 percent of the American public supports it and 
as Congress has already passed it overwhelmingly. We could do it in a 
day.
  I thank Sergeant Knight, Officer Rolfes, Officer Denlinger, Officer 
Carter, Officer Nabel, Officer Campbell, and all of the Dayton law 
enforcement for responding far beyond the call of duty in saving the 
lives of so many people in the Miami Valley.
  I thank their families, many of whom are here today. We know how 
families sacrifice alongside law enforcement and servicemembers. Yet so 
often families don't get the recognition they deserve. To the officers 
and their families, we are forever grateful.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.