[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E100-E101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CCSO COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2024

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Michele 
Hart on being named Communications Officer of the Year for the Citrus 
County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). The term ``hero'' gets used too often, 
in my opinion. It is said that ``True heroism is remarkably sober and 
very undramatic. For, it is not the urge to surpass all others at 
whatever cost, but rather the urge to serve others at whatever cost.'' 
I could not agree more with this assessment. The heroism that is 
displayed daily by our first responders is both inspirational and 
aspirational for us all. So few among us answer the call to serve, yet 
it is the selfless sacrifice of those few who do that keeps our entire 
community safe.
  By all accounts, Ms. Hart has dedicated her life to serving others, 
highlighted by her seven-year tenure with the CCSO which has included 
progressive responsibility as she was promoted from Communications 
Officer to Communications Officer In Charge, and then to Communications 
Supervisor before accepting her current role as Quality Assurance and 
Training Specialist. She has exhibited unwavering dedication and 
commitment to the improvement of the Communications Division, which is 
critical to the operational success of the entire law enforcement team. 
She has been recognized for consistently supporting new employees by 
researching and implementing enhanced training platforms to maximize 
effectiveness and efficiency. She also took a leadership role in 
converting the Department's communication program to a more

[[Page E101]]

modernized, digital format. By obtaining her Quality Assurance 
Certification in the Priority Dispatch Protocol programs, Ms. Hart 
expanded the capacity of her team and highlighted her willingness to do 
whatever it takes to get the job done. It is the daily efforts of 
support team members, like Ms. Hart, who enable our law enforcement 
officers to meet the needs of the community. Her peers, commanding 
officers and the community-at-large have recognized that Ms. Hart 
routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty to promote public 
safety and to support her team, even in the most difficult of 
circumstances. The impact of her efforts have left a lasting imprint on 
the lives of those she serves.

                          ____________________