[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 11, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2429-S2430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          National Police Week

  Mr. TILLIS. Madam President, this week is National Police Week, and I 
rise today in honor of the service and sacrifice of law enforcement 
across this country.
  In North Carolina, we lost 10 law enforcement officers in 2020, and 
we tragically lost 6, so far, in 2021. Some of these officers were 
victims of COVID, others were involved in car accidents, and some made 
the ultimate sacrifice being killed in the line of duty.
  Recent tragedies in Cabarrus, Gaston, Henderson, and Watauga Counties 
in my State of North Carolina have been met with an outpouring of 
gratitude, appreciation, and love from the residents for the 
communities they help keep safe.
  Last September, we lost Deputy Ryan Hendrix of the Henderson County 
Sheriff's Office after he was shot and killed responding to a break-in. 
Officer Hendrix was only 35 years old. He had two young children and 
was set to be married to his fiance the following month.
  Last December, Tyler Herndon of the Mount Holly Police Department was 
tragically killed in the line of duty just days before his 26th 
birthday.
  In December, Officer Jason Shuping of the Concord Police Department 
was shot and killed while responding to an attempted carjacking. 
Officer Shuping was only 25 years old. He left behind his wife Haylee, 
a high school sweetheart whom he had been in love with for years and 
married for 2. Last week, I had the honor--the sad honor--of joining 
Cabarrus County to commemorate Law Enforcement Day and to honor Officer 
Shuping's service.
  Most recently, on April 28, North Carolina tragically lost two more 
law enforcement officers: Sergeant Chris Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox 
of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office. They were conducting a welfare 
check that turned into a deadly, hours-long standoff. Sergeant Ward was 
only 36 years old. He was an 8-year law enforcement veteran. He leaves 
behind a wife, who was also his high school sweetheart, and two 
daughters. Deputy Fox was only 25 years old. He was a 2-year veteran of 
the Watauga Sheriff's Office, and he was a partner with a K-9 named 
``Raven.'' He was engaged and soon to be married.
  The people of North Carolina came together to pay their final 
respects to these brave officers just a little over a week ago. During 
the procession from Winston-Salem back to Boone, many stood on the side 
of the road to salute the officers and proudly wave American flags.
  I told the audience and the police officers present last week in 
Concord that you need to know that the majority of Americans still 
greatly appreciate your service to law enforcement. They recognize the 
vast majority of men and women serving in law enforcement are good 
people who put their uniforms on every day, willing to sacrifice their 
own lives to protect us.
  Being a law enforcement officer is not an easy job, and it is 
certainly not safe. We saw that on Capitol Hill on January 6. But being 
an officer is becoming harder and harder as they handle more stress, 
more pressure, and more responsibilities than ever before. If their 
jobs weren't hard enough already, there are some people, including 
people on Capitol Hill, who are actively demonizing all of law 
enforcement, arguing that they are unworthy of taxpayer funding and the 
people's respect.
  It is no wonder why many law enforcement officers across the Nation--
officers across the Nation--have low morale. We are seeing the real-
world consequences: a decrease in applications to go in academies, 
early exits, and more retirements. It has gotten to dangerous levels in 
several cities across the country.
  The demonization of law enforcement will have lasting consequences, 
and it will ultimately make all of us less safe. This is why Congress 
must do everything we can to support law enforcement and to stop 
efforts to demean and demonize them. The best way to do that is to 
recognize law enforcement for their remarkable service and the dangers 
they face to protect us.
  That is why I recently reintroduced the Protect and Serve Act. This 
legislation would make it a Federal crime to intentionally assault a 
law enforcement officer. It ensures prosecutors have every tool 
available to punish those who attack and target them. In 2018, the 
Protect and Serve Act passed the House by a vote of 382 to 35, and it 
had the support of every current Member of the House Democratic 
leadership.
  If President Biden is serious about unity, I can think of no better 
bill for him to support. This week, I will be reintroducing another 
important piece of legislation, the Probation Officer Protection Act. 
This bill would give probation officers the arrest authority they need 
to fully enforce the law and protect public safety. I hope my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle will cosponsor this bill and work 
with me to send it to the President's desk, along with the Protect and 
Serve Act.
  I know every Member of Congress has seen the heroism of law 
enforcement firsthand. I did too. We all saw it on January 6, when 
Capitol Police and DC Police risked their lives to ensure our safety. 
We ultimately lost two Capitol Police officers, and we lost another 
since then. More than 440 of our Capitol Police and DC Police were 
injured in the events of January 6.
  I hope the respect and appreciation we show to law enforcement this 
week can be sustained year-round. Let us commit ourselves to doing all 
we can to support the men and women in blue who protect and serve us 
every single day.

[[Page S2430]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana
  Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, I rise today in recognition of National 
Police Week, where we honor, remember, and support public servants who 
dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe.
  Today, I specifically recognize Louisiana law enforcement officers 
who lost their lives in 2020 performing their duty. We should all thank 
God for law enforcement officers and their willingness to put their 
lives between us and danger, knowing that they may have to sacrifice 
their lives, as 15 did in Louisiana this past year.
  To the families, wives, husbands, and children of these fallen 
Louisiana police officers, we share your pain, and we share your pride 
for he or she who was here for us all.
  These are the officers in Louisiana who died this past year in the 
line of service: Deputy Constable Levi Kelling Arnold, New Orleans 
First City Court; Trooper George Bowman Baker, Louisiana State Police; 
SRO/Dare Officer Kejuane Artez Bates, Vidalia Police Department; 
Reserve Captain Raymond Andrew Boseman, New Orleans Police Department; 
Probation and Parole Officer Kaitlin Marie Cowley, Louisiana Department 
of Public Safety and Corrections; Captain Steven Michael Gaudet, Jr., 
Pearl River Police Department; Deputy Sheriff Claude Winston Guillory, 
Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Office; Senior Police Officer Mark 
Albert Hall, Sr., New Orleans Police Department; Lieutenant Glenn Dale 
Hutto, Jr., Baton Rouge Police Department; Correctional Deputy Kietrell 
Michael Pitts, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office; Deputy Sheriff Donna 
Michelle Richardson-Below, DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office; Captain 
Kevin Paul Trahan, Church Point Police Department; Captain Randy 
Michael Vallot, Richland Parish Sheriff's Office; Officer Marshall Lee 
Waters, Jr., Mangham Police Department; and Senior Police Officer 
Sharon M. Williams, New Orleans Police Department.
  Their passing--each of theirs--was felt throughout our States, and 
they are tragic reminders of the danger law enforcement officers face 
every day when they report for duty. And they know it; they accept the 
risk; their families accept the risk; and their spouse and their 
children. We must honor their sacrifice.
  I ask that we all join in prayer for the families of these fallen 
officers and that we keep in prayer those who protect us during the 
day. It is a difficult time, but knowing our country supports them can 
make all the difference.
  Just last week, the Audubon Zoo canceled the annual Blue at the Zoo 
event that seeks to promote and foster positive, interactive 
experiences with the New Orleans Police Department. The New Orleans 
Police Department superintendent, Shaun Ferguson, said he was 
``disheartened as a result of that decision.''
  Any opportunity for a positive conversation is an opportunity to 
improve relationships between law enforcement and communities. We need 
more events, not fewer. We have much work to do.
  But today, let's acknowledge those who put their lives on the line 
every day they put on a uniform. Let's remember those we have lost too 
soon. Let's honor the work they do to keep us safe.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.