[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 84 (Thursday, May 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          National Police Week

  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the brave men and 
women in North Carolina and across the Nation who serve in law 
enforcement.
  This is a particularly emotional week for law enforcement. The law 
enforcement community has thousands of officers, and their families are 
in the Nation's Capital for National Police Week. They are paying a 
tribute to the brave officers who were killed in the line of duty while 
protecting our communities. I want to welcome all North Carolinians who 
are in Washington right now.
  Unfortunately, our State is all too familiar with law enforcement 
officers having to make the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in 
the line of duty. Over the past year, North Carolina has lost three law 
enforcement officers who were killed by others in the line of duty, in 
addition to a number of other officers who died from other causes. I 
would like to take a moment to honor the service of those North 
Carolina law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty.
  In late August, we lost Sergeant Matthew Ryan Fishman--he was 38 
years old--of Wayne County Sheriff's Office. He was one of three 
deputies shot after attempting to serve a warrant. They were met with 
gunfire, and the incident caused a 10-hour standoff. Sergeant Fishman 
died a day later.
  He had been a deputy since 2010. Before that, he was an officer in 
the Mount Olive Police Department. Officer Fishman is survived by his 
wife Sarah, two children, his parents, and two brothers.
  That same August, we also saw the death of Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd of 
Wake County. Deputy Byrd was with his K-9 when he heard six gunshots 
and drove past a vehicle on the side of the road. Deputy Byrd stopped 
and backed up his vehicle. He was shot several times by two criminals.
  Unfortunately, the killing of Deputy Byrd revealed numerous failures. 
The criminals who killed him were not in the United States legally. One 
of them had been previously deported but was able to illegally reenter 
the country.
  When we talk about ``got-aways,'' this is a very important point 
because it happened just a couple of weeks ago in Texas. Someone who 
was illegally present in this country--was deported four times--got 
back into this country a fifth time and murdered a family in Texas, 
including an 8-year-old child. That is another face of a ``got-away.'' 
And it was a ``got-away'' who killed this officer.
  Following their arrest for the murder of Deputy Byrd, one of these 
criminals managed to escape prison for several days, and we had to 
apprehend him again in Mexico.
  Part of seeking justice must be looking at these failures and making 
sure they don't happen again.
  Deputy Byrd was an Air Force veteran and served Wake County Sheriff's 
Department for 13 years. He is survived by his sister, brother-in-law, 
four nephews, as well as his beloved K-9 Sasha.
  Last December, less than 2 weeks before Christmas, we lost Deputy 
Sheriff Bolanos-Anavisca of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. He 
was 23 years old and served the office for 2 years. He was struck and 
killed by a car while investigating a robbery at 3 a.m. The driver ran 
through a red light and struck him and then fled the scene. They 
eventually located the driver, and he was highly intoxicated.
  In the wake of these tragic losses in North Carolina, I am proud to 
say that we saw the very best of our local communities. While we have 
some communities calling for defunding the police and making 
contributions to a website supported by ActBlue--I looked it up today, 
Mr. President. I am shocked that it is still there. During Police Week, 
there is a website out there called ACAB. Send your money. What does 
``ACAB'' stand for? ``All Cops Are Bastards.''
  You would think that at least in a week when we are looking at the 
sacrifice these officers made, they could take the website down, but 
they are still proudly raising money. If you don't believe me, just 
Google ``ActBlue,'' ``All Cops Are Bastards.'' Donate today. Harass the 
police. Look past the sacrifice they are making every single day.
  On the other hand, our communities had an outpouring of love and 
support for the families and colleagues of those fallen officers. Most 
Americans proudly support men and women in blue. But there are some who 
feel emboldened by the disgusting anti-police rhetoric.
  Disrespect and denigration of law enforcement officers only 
contribute to an environment that makes our officers and communities 
less safe and far fewer people willing to even sign up to do the job. 
If you don't believe me, ask local law enforcement. We have historic 
lows for people signing up to go to academies and historic highs for 
people retiring early, as soon as they are eligible. This is happening 
across the Nation.
  In 2021, the intentional killings of law enforcement officers reached 
a 20-year high. While the number went down in 2022, it is still well 
above what we have seen in years past. We need to take threats and acts 
of violence against law enforcement seriously. That is why I will 
reintroduce the Protect and Serve Act in this Congress. This 
legislation will make it a Federal crime to intentionally assault a law 
enforcement officer. It is amazing that it is not on the books already 
today. It sends a strong message to criminals that targeting and 
assaulting law enforcement officers is inexcusable, and you will be 
punished. I will continue to work across the aisle to get this 
legislation enacted into law.
  And I am committed to supporting our brave men and women in blue. 
This bill has earned broad support and has the full support of the 
Fraternal Order of Police and many of the Nation's leading law 
enforcement groups.
  Each year, we take this week to celebrate those who serve us and 
protect us in public safety. This would be a great year to come back 
next year's Police Week and say that we got this bill passed.
  Law enforcement has our backs every time and every day they put on a 
uniform. The least Congress can do is to support the Protect and Serve 
Act. They need your support more than ever, and you need their support 
more than ever.
  To the men and women in blue in North Carolina and across the 
country, I want to say thank you for what you do and the sacrifice you 
make.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.