[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E995-E996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING WESTIN SCHINDLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2022

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Westin Schindler, an officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department. I 
have named Mr. Schindler as a Public Safety Hero of the Year for Sonoma 
County in California's 5th District as a result of his extraordinary 
selflessness, dedication, and service to others.
  Mr. Schindler was born in Santa Rosa, California and raised in 
Petaluma. He received two associates degrees from the Santa Rosa Junior 
College and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from 
Sacramento State University. While attending Santa Rosa Junior College, 
Mr. Schindler began his law enforcement career as a police cadet and 
shortly after, became a community service officer at Sacramento State 
University. Immediately following his college graduation, Mr. Schindler 
was hired by the Petaluma Police Department and attended the police 
academy. After serving over two years with Petaluma Police Department 
as a member of their gang enforcement team, Mr. Schindler was hired by 
the Santa Rosa Police Department, where he works today. In addition to 
his role as a patrol officer, Mr. Schindler has also served on the 
special weapons and tactics team and as a defense tactics instructor.
  Every year, Santa Rosa Police Department receives over 100,000 calls 
for service, with busy shifts averaging between 200 to 300 dispatched 
calls. Through his skill and determination, Mr. Schindler has also 
invested significant time in preventing criminal activity

[[Page E996]]

through proactive traffic enforcement stops and investigations. In the 
last year alone, he has seized ten illegally possessed firearms, 
including numerous Polymer80 ``ghost guns'' and assault rifles. Mr. 
Schindler has also authored a search warrant and led an operation 
typically reserved for specialized detectives, allowing the rapid 
seizure of evidence before it could be destroyed.
  Mr. Schindler is the younger brother of two other public servants--a 
firefighter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire 
Protection and a fellow officer at Santa Rosa Police Department. He is 
also devoted to his family, which includes his two-year-old daughter 
Savannah and fiancee Jenn Eastham.
  Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that Mr. Schindler is an exemplary 
civil servant whose resolve and endless commitment to the safety of his 
community is worthy of commendation. Therefore, it is fitting and 
proper that we honor him here today.

                          ____________________