[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 91 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 SERGEANT H.A. ``BUCK'' WENZEL TRIBUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2020

  Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Buck 
Wenzel of Custer County, Colorado for his valuable service as a law 
enforcement officer and community leader for over 40 years and to wish 
him well in his retirement.
  As a young adult, Buck served as a law enforcement officer with the 
Security Forces of the U.S. Air Force. Since 1977, Buck has served the 
Third Congressional District in various capacities as a community 
leader and law enforcement official at the Pueblo County Sheriff's 
Office and the Custer County Sheriff's Office. Buck graduated from the 
Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy in November 1978 and shortly 
thereafter served in a Patrol Division as a Patrol Deputy.
  He was transferred in 1981 to the Investigations Division, where as a 
Detective he specialized in violent crimes. A few years later, he was 
tasked with creating a Field Training and Evaluation Program for all 
new recruit patrol deputies. Later, Buck served as an Instructor at the 
Law Enforcement Academy and as a supervisor for SWAT. Because of his 
exemplary service, he was promoted in 1988 and sent to the Northwestern 
School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University in 
Chicago. He received the Kremling Honorable Mention upon graduation.
  In 2001, Buck was tasked with absorbing Colorado State University's 
Police Department and establishing a contractual Sheriff's Office 
Policing Division for the university. During his last 10 years of 
service at the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, he served as the Senior 
Operations Commander for the Operations Bureau partaking in duties such 
as daily and long-term planning of the Bureau and Divisions which 
included Field Training, SWAT, and 9-1-1. Several years later in 2007, 
Buck retired from the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.
  For his service, Buck has received innumerable awards and 
commendations including honorable mentions, sheriff commendations, and 
team commendations. Additionally, he received the 2005 National 
Alliance on Mental Illness Heroes in the Fight Award, 2005 Pueblo 
County Uniformed Officer of the Year Award, and 2014 Custer County 
Sheriff's Office Officer of the Year Award. Now retired from law 
enforcement, Buck continues his work as Mayor of Silver Cliff and as a 
Chairperson of the Custer County 9-1-1 Authority Board.
  Madam Speaker, Buck has dutifully served his country and community 
for almost his entire life. He has more than earned his retirement. I 
wish him the best of luck in this next stage of life and look forward 
to seeing his future contributions to the community.

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