[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING SPOKANE COUNTY SHERIFF OZZIE KNEZOVICH

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 21, 2022

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
and congratulate my longtime friend, Spokane Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich. 
At the end of December, Ozzie will retire from public service after 
serving more than 29 years in law enforcement, including 16 years as 
Spokane County Sheriff.
  Sheriff Knezovich began this law enforcement career as a patrol 
officer for the City of Olympia, WA, and the City of Rock Springs, WY, 
before joining the force in Spokane. Here, he rose through the ranks 
serving first as a Field Training Officer, then as a Property Crimes 
Detective, Sex Crimes Detective, SWAT Team Operator, SWAT Team 
Supervisor, Patrol Supervisor, and later as a Training Supervisor, 
where he remained until he was elected as the top law enforcement 
officer of Spokane County in 2006.
  Sheriff Knezovich has faithfully served the people of Spokane County 
as Sheriff for the last 16 years, during which he earned the trust and 
confidence of our entire community. In his role as Sheriff, Ozzie 
oversees a vast law enforcement force of officers, who under his 
direction, protect and serve nearly 546,040 Spokane County residents 
across more than 1,781 square miles.
  A devoted public servant dedicated to reaching out to the community 
and Spokane County youth, Sheriff Knezovich serves on several outreach 
boards including the United Way, Daybreak Youth Services, the Salvation 
Army, Frontier Behavioral Health, the Arc of Spokane, Boy Scouts of 
America, Community Service Team. He is also the Founding Board Member 
for the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force.
  Sheriff Knezovich is a true public servant who is always eager to 
make a difference. His long-held goal has been to provide effective and 
efficient law enforcement service while building strong and trusting 
relationships within the community. He has certainly achieved that goal 
and so much more. Sheriff Knezovich' s dedication to and impact in 
Spokane County is seen far beyond the walls of the Sheriffs Department, 
as he has proven himself to be a catalyst in improving the lives of 
Spokane County citizens.
  Having first been elected in 2004 myself, I've had the honor of 
working with Sheriff Kenezovich throughout his entire career. I've 
enjoyed the many projects we collaborated on to make Eastern Washington 
a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. He's been a tremendous 
partner, and he will be dearly missed by all those who had the pleasure 
of working with him.
  Madam Speaker, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich has dedicated his entire adult 
life to public service. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
the dedication and selflessness displayed by Sheriff Knezovich for 
nearly three decades. While Sheriff Knezovich is deserving of far 
greater accolades from a grateful public, the United States House of 
Representatives extends our sincere appreciation and best wishes for a 
retirement of joy and peace.

                          ____________________