[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 213 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7538-S7539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING CASSIE JOHNSON

 Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of one of West Virginia's finest. Patrolwoman Cassie Johnson of 
the Charleston Police Department represented the very best of who we 
are as a statewide community, and she was taken from us far too soon on 
December 3, 2020, at the age of 28. Cassie was the daughter of an 
ironworker; she shared her mother's steely resolve and iron 
constitution.
  Being a police officer in the city she loved and grew up in was a 
dream come true for Cassie. She was sworn in by Mayor Amy Goodwin in 
January of 2019 and had previously worked as a city humane officer. 
Cassie was born and raised in our State's capital. She could have gone 
anywhere, and she chose to stay and protect and serve the community 
that made her who she was.
  She was truly a beautiful person in every way. Growing up, Cassie was 
an athlete and particularly loved softball. She would one day find that 
the Little League field she played on as a child was on her beat, and 
so she watched over it with great care so the current generation of 
children could play in safety. One of the first things she did when she 
was assigned to the field was to clean up the drug paraphernalia to 
make it a safe place for kids. Because

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of her efforts, children and their families have been able to enjoy the 
field as a clean, safe, fun place to play.
  Cassie was an animal lover and dedicated her life to rescuing pets 
who had been cast aside, even taking an animal behavior class in 
Tennessee so she could better understand the language of dogs. Cassie's 
beloved dog, Emma, was a chocolate lab who passed away just a few 
months ago. Cassie grieved deeply for Emma because she had a special 
connection with her. Years ago, when Cassie was in high school, Emma 
had nine chocolate lab pups--in Cassie's bedroom. Her mom tells the 
story of taking the runt of the litter with her to pick Cassie up at 
school. When they got home, there were chocolate lab pups everywhere. 
That was just one of the many adventures Cassie had with Emma. No 
doubt, they are reunited again.
  Cassie was a music lover, most likely because her mother sang her to 
sleep as a child. She was surrounded by instruments and music 
throughout her life. She loved to make the world beautiful, and that is 
also why she enjoyed decorating for the holidays. The weekend before 
she passed, she decorated her mother's house for Christmas, alongside 
her dear sister, Chelsea. One of the last actions she took the day of 
her passing was to wipe the snow from those holiday decorations because 
she always looked out for her mother any way she could.
  Most importantly, Cassie was a genuinely good person and lived her 
whole life with West Virginia values. She worked hard and bought her 
own home at the age of 25. She was beloved in the community and in her 
profession, as evidenced in the tremendous outpouring of grief, 
support, and fellowship that followed her tragic passing. Her mother 
describes her as respectful and well-mannered throughout her whole 
life. Cassie will be deeply missed not only because of who she was but 
because we are all so keenly aware of and sorrowful for what might have 
been.
  No one can ever take away what Cassie represented to the Charleston 
community and the entire Mountain State. Every one of our female 
leaders in West Virginia is the epitome of strength and advancement in 
their fields and serve as inspiring role models for the next 
generation, and that is due in great part to the women who broke ground 
in generations past. Because of their accomplishments, more young women 
like Cassie have, and will, blaze their own trails and continue to make 
our State and entire Nation proud. I have such tremendous respect for 
our police officers and all of our first responders. Cassie's 
compassion, courage, and selflessness will live on through the memories 
of those who knew and loved her, as well as through the countless lives 
she touched and inspired every day. She leaves us having made a 
profound impact in the community she loved as well as in the lives of 
those around her.
  I had the tremendous and humbling honor of visiting with Cassie's 
family at her bedside in her final hours. It is clear to me that Cassie 
came from strong roots and that her life was filled with joy and love. 
She was a beloved daughter, sister, and a loyal friend, who adored her 
three dogs and all animals. True to her character, Cassie was an organ 
donor, and her final act of selflessness has given someone else a 
chance at life.
  The Charleston Police Department has retired Cassie's unit number, 
146. I know I join the entire Mountain State in mourning our shared 
loss of this bright, generous, vibrant spirit. Gayle and I extend our 
deepest condolences to Cassie's mother Sheryl, her sister Chelsea, her 
brother Terry, and all her family and friends, her colleagues with the 
Charleston Police Department, as well as the city of Charleston, and 
will forever keep them in our prayers.

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