[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 116 (Thursday, July 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, POLICE DEPARTMENT

 Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today to honor and 
recognize Captain James Grasela III, Sergeant Lee Ann Shelton, and 
Officer Dallas Thompson of the Kansas City, KS, Police Department.
  On January 7, 2022, while the Kansas City Police were conducting a 
burglary investigation, Officer Thompson found pills crumpled in an 
envelope belonging to a detained suspect. Captain James Grasela 
immediately recognized the pills as ones which might be laced with 
fentanyl. Officer Thompson did everything by the book: placed the pills 
and envelope in an evidence bag, sealed it, and removed his gloves, yet 
just minutes later, he dropped to the ground, struggling to breathe. It 
was only through the quick action of Captain Grasela and the other 
officers on the scene that Officer Thompson was able to survive.
  If the officers had not been there to administer emergency 
medication, Officer Thompson would not have made it home to his two 
daughters. Thankfully, this accidental overdose did not end in tragedy. 
Unfortunately, deaths involving Fentanyl are not uncommon in this 
country. Fentanyl kills more Americans than any other drug and is a 
clear threat to our society. The fact that it takes less Fentanyl than 
can fit on the tip of a pencil to kill someone makes this crisis even 
more severe.
  I want to honor these officers for everything they do to protect our 
citizens from the dangers of fentanyl. They put their lives on the line 
every day to shield Americans from this crisis, as seen this past 
January. I now ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the bravery 
of our Kansas City, Kansas, police officers and to honor them for their 
dedication to protecting their fellow Americans from the scourge of 
Fentanyl.

                          ____________________