[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 186 (Friday, October 30, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





     HONORING SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SHERIFF MARCO ANTONIO ESTRADA, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 30, 2020

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Santa 
Cruz County Sheriff Marco Antonio Estrada, Sr. for his decades of 
public service to Nogales, AZ. The only Hispanic and longest serving 
Sheriff in the State of Arizona is retiring after a combined career of 
over 50 years in law enforcement.
  A native to Ambos Nogales, Sheriff Estrada was born in Nogales, 
Sonora, Mexico. In December of 1944, his family immigrated to the 
United States and made their home in Nogales, Arizona. Sheriff Estrada 
grew up from humble beginnings, and his family often struggled to put 
food on the table. With a tremendous work ethic, drive, and self-
education through avid reading, he overcame poverty.
  Sheriff Estrada's law enforcement career began in 1966 when he first 
joined the Nogales Police Department as a radio dispatcher. He 
continued to move up the ranks with promotions to Desk Sergeant, then 
serving as Captain from 1978 up to his retirement in 1991.
  In 1992, he decided to continue his public service career and ran for 
The Office of Santa Cruz County Sheriff. He was elected and sworn in on 
January 1, 1993. Since then, Sheriff Estrada has been re-elected for 
seven consecutive terms and is finishing his ``last rodeo'', as he so 
famously called it, with a distinguished legacy of service to Santa 
Cruz County. A proud immigrant himself, he always promoted the welfare 
of immigrants and is an advocate for the border town. One of his most 
notable accomplishments was the construction of a new sheriff's 
department and county jail named after him: ``Tony Estrada Law 
Enforcement Center.'' His long exemplary career in law enforcement 
counts mainly accolades; however, as our country currently faces 
tensions between communities and local law enforcement, his greatest 
accomplishment could arguably be the longstanding positive relationship 
maintained between the local law enforcement agency and its community 
under his leadership. As a Sheriff who made it a point, not only to 
enforce the law with strength, but to also enforce the law with 
compassion, empathy, integrity, dedication, commitment and passion; 
it's understandable why residents identify Marco Antonio Estrada, Sr. 
as a Sheriff who truly reflects the values of their small border town. 
Sheriff Estrada publicly defended those values and the people of Santa 
Cruz County against those who would demean the community.
  Sheriff Estrada also understood the importance of serving and giving 
back to his community after hours. He actively volunteers his time to 
many community-based organizations that include: United Way of Santa 
Cruz County (serving as a spokesperson for over three decades), the 
Boys and Girls Club, the Nogales Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, Way of 
the Heart Promotora Institute, Nogales Elks Lodge, is a lifetime member 
of the Fraternal Order of Police, and has always supported charitable 
organizations.
  Congratulations on a job well done and time well served, my friend. 
You are a hero to your family and community and an example of good 
policing. There will never be another Sheriff Estrada (Sr.), but the 
bar has been set high for The Office of Santa Cruz County Sheriff.

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