[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 81 (Thursday, May 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL POLICE WEEK: DARKNESS WILL NEVER WIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Graves) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, last year there were over 
60,000 police officers who were assaulted in the line of duty. Over 
60,000 were assaulted, and 295 of those officers died. This year 
already we have had over 123 police officers who have been shot.
  This is National Police Week. This is the time when we need to 
reflect upon the difference between total chaos in our community and 
civilized order, holding people accountable for the crimes that they 
commit, ensuring that we are not defunding the police but we are 
lifting up the police, and that we are holding these peacekeepers and 
their families in our prayers.
  Mr. Speaker, on July 17 of 2016, we had five police officers in my 
hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shot. Brad Garafola, Matthew 
Gerald, and Montrell Jackson died that day. They died. Bruce Simmons 
and Brad Montgomery were both injured.
  Nick Tullier was an East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputy. Nick 
took three bullets--one to the head, one to the chest, and one to the 
abdomen. Every single medical professional--doctors, nurses, and 
hospital officials--everyone said that he wasn't going to make it 
through the rest of that day, July 17. Nearly 6 years later, Nick 
Tullier was still fighting for his life. He sat there for 2,119 days--
2,119 days--with his father, James, and his mother, Mary, by his side 
fighting. Nick was unbelievable.
  This shooting was designed to rip our community apart. It was 
designed to attack law enforcement, to attack peacekeepers, and, I 
think, to offend the police and to intimidate the police. It did 
completely the opposite. Rather than ripping our community apart, it 
brought all of us together--all of us--together. No matter political 
party, race, socioeconomic situation, or neighborhood, everyone came 
together in support of these officers, their families, their 
departments, and what they did, their sacrifice.
  These people are underpaid and overworked, and every single day when 
they leave the house they kiss loved ones and they kiss dependents 
because it may be the last time they come home.
  Mr. Speaker, Nick Tullier didn't let the evil win. He didn't let the 
bad guys win. Nick was completely a fighter. He sat there, and against 
all odds he refused to let death prevail.
  Mr. Speaker, Nick inspired our entire community and our State. You 
saw these bracelets all over the place: ``Pray for Nick Tullier'' or 
``Nick Tullier Strong.'' Even the President signed a note to him a few 
years ago. It was a rallying cry for our community.
  Mr. Speaker, the numbers that we have seen this year alone in not 
lifting up the police and supporting the police--supporting these 
peacekeepers--but rather disrespecting them is absolutely inexcusable.
  These people--I can't say it enough--put their lives on the line for 
our communities so we can be safe. Nick Tullier fought, he beat that 
evil, and he defied all odds. But, sadly, on Tuesday of this week, he 
was buried after 6 years of fighting death, of saying no, of upholding 
good, and of bringing our community together.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the amazing work of his parents again, Mary and 
James Tullier, who every single day were at his side making it clear to 
Nick that not just they were there for him but the entire community was 
and that their boundless love for this man would be so clear to him 
throughout this process. It was so clear.
  I thank his sons, Trenton and Gage. I remind them their father was a 
role model for our community. I say to his brothers, Jamie and Shannon, 
please don't let the void that Nick's passing to the Father has 
created. Do not let that become a void here on Earth. Continue his 
mission, the Nick Tullier Foundation, St. Jude, and others.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to say the difference between 
chaos and order is what our peacekeepers do. Underpaid, 
underappreciated, and overworked, these are great people. We cannot 
allow this trend of seeing an increase in shootings. There were over 
60,000 attacks against our law enforcement officers last year alone. We 
cannot allow this to continue.

                          ____________________