[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF DEPUTY RICHARD WHITTEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 2020

  Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today 
to honor the life and legacy of Liberty County Sheriff's Deputy Richard 
Whitten, who succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained on 
May 29, 2019, while responding to a crisis call in Cleveland, Texas.
  On May 29, Deputy Whitten was off-duty and en route to a law 
enforcement training class, when ``shots fired'' was dispatched over 
the radio. Deputy Whitten did not hesitate to put himself in harm's 
way, he responded instantly, arriving just as the suspect was fleeing 
the scene after murdering two people at a Cleveland business. After a 
brief pursuit, Deputy Whitten was shot in the neck by the murder 
suspect--paralyzing him instantly. The perpetrator subsequently 
committed suicide.
  Following this tragedy, Deputy Whitten remained hospitalized at TIRR 
Memorial Herman, a world-class rehabilitation hospital in the Houston 
Medical Center. On February 3, 2020, Deputy Whitten suffered a 
complication while undergoing physical therapy and tragically passed 
away.
  In July 2019, Deputy Whitten, his wife, Kami, and I had a lengthy 
conversation about his passion for law enforcement as well as his 
recovery process. He personally told me that he would do it all over 
again to protect his community. He served with the Liberty County 
Sheriff's Office for four years and will be greatly missed.
  Deputy Whitten selflessly paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the 
safety and well-being of the citizens of Liberty County. Madam Speaker, 
I would like to thank Deputy Richard Whitten, for his faithful service 
and devotion to his community. My prayers remain with his family and 
friends at this time.

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