[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE LEADERSHIP OF EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF RICHARD D. WILES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERONICA ESCOBAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2023

  Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the 43 years of public 
service of Richard D. Wiles, Sheriff of El Paso County, and a 
distinguished law enforcement leader in our community.
  Richard Wiles was raised in El Paso and is an Andress High School 
alum. After graduating, he joined the El Paso Police Department in 1982 
and worked his way up the ranks from a Patrol Officer to Chief of 
Police. Wiles was elected Sheriff to the El Paso County Sheriff's 
Office in 2009 where he has made important improvements to the safety 
of our community.
  As Sheriff, Wiles has significantly improved the technology and 
training that officers receive. Sheriff Wiles implemented the Crisis 
Intervention Team (CIT) that works with Emergence Health Network (EHN) 
to respond to calls and aid high-risk situations that may involve a 
person suffering a behavioral or mental health crisis. Under this 
program, officers are learning how to respond to mental health cases 
and help divert people from our criminal justice system when 
appropriate.
  Sheriff Wiles was also an outspoken leader following the deadly 
domestic terrorist shooting that happened on August 3, 2019. He stood 
up and called out the blatant racism that motivated an individual to 
drive hundreds of miles with the intention to kill immigrants and 
Hispanics. Sheriff Wiles understands the strength and significance of 
our diversity and has embraced it within the El Paso County Sheriff's 
Office.
  He has robust knowledge of the criminal justice system both in theory 
and practice. He received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice 
from the University of El Paso (UTEP) and earned his master's degree in 
criminal justice from Sul Ross State University. He also attended the 
Federal Bureau of lnvestigation's (FBI) National Academy and the Bill 
Blackwell Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. Sheriff Wiles 
has always sought to be the best leader by continuously learning.
  Today, it is my privilege to honor Sheriff Richard D. Wiles, thank 
him for his dedication, and wish him and his family the best upon his 
upcoming retirement.

                          ____________________