[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 140 (Tuesday, August 29, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E802-E803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF TOM BENSLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK BERGMAN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 29, 2023

  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Tom Bensley for 
his 14 years of service as Sheriff of Grand Traverse County. Throughout 
his time working for the people of Northern Michigan, including nearly 
five decades in law enforcement, Tom has shown considerable poise and 
professionalism while making his community a safer place.
  Following 3 years of service in the United States Army, Sheriff 
Bensley attended Northwestern Michigan College. In 1971, he joined the 
Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office as a seasonal marine officer. By 
1974, Tom was promoted to a full-time road patrol officer. In the 
spring of 1983, he was named supervisor of the department's marine 
safety section. He received numerous awards for his service including 
the 1985 Employee of the Year and two Awards of Merit. Tom temporarily 
retired in 1999, before being elected as the 34th Sheriff of Grand 
Traverse County in 2008. He would go on to hold this position for 14 
years, until announcing his upcoming retirement in September of 2023. 
Additionally, he was an active member of the Sheriff's Office dive team 
for 35 years.
  Throughout his distinguished career, Sheriff Bensley prioritized his 
community's safety and well-being above all else. Tom's longtime 
devotion to our country is commendable, and the

[[Page E803]]

impact of his work on his fellow officers and the people of the Grand 
Traverse County cannot be overstated. We owe Tom our utmost gratitude 
for his continued effort to better himself, his colleagues, and the 
community he has served for the past 50 years.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Tom Bensley for his decades 
of combined service to the United States Army and the Grand Traverse 
County Sheriff's Department. On behalf of Michigan's First District, I 
extend my gratitude to Tom and his family and wish them the best in 
their future endeavors.