[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 113 (Monday, July 11, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Law Enforcement

  Madam President, on another matter, I had the privilege of spending 
time meeting with Iowa law enforcement during a recent break when the 
Congress was not in session. I met with them to hear directly what they 
are facing on the ground. I asked what support they needed from 
Congress and what challenges these people are facing.
  Law enforcement faces too many problems, and we need to understand 
more how that affects their work and their morale. Do you know what I 
heard from these people? That recruiting new officers and retaining 
their current officers is a harder job for the chiefs to do than ever. 
In part, this is because young people are being told by leaders, even 
Members of Congress, that being in law enforcement is not an honorable 
profession. They are hearing that it isn't a career worth pursuing.
  These Iowa officers asked me to speak with my fellow legislators to 
stop that kind of nonsense talk, and they happen to be right when they 
give us that advice, that we ought to honor the policemen today and law 
enforcement generally. There is no greater love than for a man to lay 
down his life for his community, and that sacrifice of personal safety 
for the well-being of others is what law enforcement embodies every 
day.
  Recruiting and retaining good officers is also hard because of the 
increase in ambush attacks on law enforcement. Not only are citizens 
much less cooperative when dealing with law enforcement, but some are 
actually intentionally targeting and murdering our law enforcement 
personnel. Twenty twenty-one was the most dangerous year to be a law 
enforcement officer in the last two decades. Many officers in Iowa 
aren't volunteering for overtime anymore because it is too dangerous.
  An ambush attack like this happened a few weeks ago in Los Angeles. 
Two officers responded to reports of a stabbing. When they knocked on 
the door, they were shot and killed by a gang member who was out on 
probation. He should have been already in jail, but he caught a huge 
break from progressive prosecutors in that city.
  That wasn't the first time an officer was killed by a gang member in 
Los Angeles this year. This type of tragedy is getting replayed over 
and over again throughout the country, but we simply don't have good 
data on gang violence and on assaults on law enforcement, so we don't 
know the exact number of gang killings of policemen.
  We need more data, which is why I am working on two pieces of 
legislation to improve data collection on both gang violence and 
assaults on law enforcement. The Senate Judiciary Committee will have a 
hearing on attacks on police to discuss these issues. I look forward to 
having it during that period. I hope my colleagues will stay on target 
and focus on the violence these brave men and women face and not use 
this as a forum to chastise police. We cannot wait any longer to talk 
about this issue and the effects it is having on our communities.


 Honoring Sergeant John Williams and Deputy Sheriff Austin ``Melvin'' 
                               Richardson

  Madam President, while I am addressing this issue, I have some 
related and tragic news. Once again we in Iowa have a heavy heart as I 
recognize two Iowa officers who recently died in the line of duty.
  Sergeant John Williams of the Coralville Police Department died from 
a medical issue while he was on patrol July 3. He was described by 
those who knew him as ``an extraordinary officer, a friend, and a 
neighbor'' and also a ``fantastic family man and a true public 
servant.'' He was a fixture in the community as a 28-year veteran of 
the force, the longest serving sergeant with the Coralville Police 
Department--a department which said that Sergeant Williams' 
``knowledge, experience, and leadership will be near-impossible to 
replace.''
  Deputy Sheriff Austin ``Melvin'' Richardson perished on June 14 in a 
traffic collision. Deputy Richardson was a dedicated public servant in 
law enforcement for 15 years. He was an officer for Sidney, IA, and 
then joined the Fremont County Sheriff's Office in 2015, where he 
faithfully served since. Deputy Richardson truly fulfilled the meaning 
of a public servant. He was not only a member of law enforcement but 
also a volunteer firefighter for Percival and Sidney. He was described 
as a ``staple'' in the community, and he will be deeply missed.
  Sergeant Williams is survived by his wife Kim; his four children: 
Brandon, Benjamin, Sarah, and Rebekah; as well as six grandchildren: 
Noah, Elijah, Elsa Adalyn, Kalliope, and Emma.
  Deputy Richardson will be left behind by his wife Jennifer and three 
daughters, Bryxtol, Cheyenne, and Everly.
  I say to all of them: Your sacrifice is honored and appreciated in 
your community and by your country. We thank you all.