[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 82 (Thursday, May 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2092-H2096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Evans
of Colorado was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the
majority leader.)
General Leave
Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special
Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Fedorchak). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), a fellow former law enforcement officer, who
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served in the Duluth Police Department.
Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Evans for
yielding.
Madam Speaker, this National Police Week is a somber one for
Minnesotans, as we have lost three brave officers in the line of duty:
Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and Jamal Mitchell. I would also be
remiss if I did not acknowledge Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth.
In February 2024, Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge were attempting to
negotiate with a convicted felon who had taken several family members
hostage, including seven children. After 3\1/2\ hours of negotiations,
the subject opened fire on the officers. Firefighter/Paramedic Adam
Finseth was fired on while trying to help the wounded officers to an
armored vehicle.
On February 18, 2024, Officers Elmstrand and Ruge and Firefighter/
Paramedic Finseth did not return home to their families.
In May 2024, officers responded to shots fired in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. When the officers arrived, a gunfight ensued. Officer Jamal
Mitchell stopped to help what he thought was a wounded victim on the
ground. The subject opened multiple rounds and fired upon Officer
Mitchell.
On May 30, 2024, Officer Jamal Mitchell did not return home to his
family.
I visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial yesterday
morning. I saw the names of these men etched into the walls alongside
their brothers and sisters who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice.
I saw the pictures and the notes left behind by loved ones. I saw the
Minneapolis Police patch accompanied by two beers, a silent farewell
from a colleague who never got that last drink with their friend.
Every year, we have to put more names on that wall, and every year,
it is just as heartbreaking as the last. We have to do better by the
men and women who serve our communities. We have to support them in
their actions, our policies, and our rhetoric. We need to care for
their families as if they were our own.
I thank those who put on the law enforcement uniform every day, who
kiss their families good-bye not knowing if they will come home. It is
because of them that our communities and loved ones are safe.
To my fellow law enforcement officers across this great Nation, in
big and small communities, although my time in uniform may be over, my
watch will never end. Please know that I will use my time in office to
serve you and your families always.
{time} 1830
Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those
words. It is truly meaningful.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Ellzey).
Honoring Captain Bruce ``Puppy'' Fecht
Mr. ELLZEY. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Colorado (Mr.
Evans) and my friend from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), both police
officers. Of course, the gentleman from Colorado was a fellow
helicopter pilot, unrestricted aviator, and I thank the gentleman for
the time that he has given me today.
Madam Speaker, today I honor a friend of mine and a true American
patriot, Commander Bruce ``Puppy'' Fecht, born November 16, 1955,
passed away March 16, 2025.
Captain Bruce William Fecht, U.S. Navy, retired, a true American
hero, passed away on March 16, 2025, at the age of 69. He was born in
Missoula, Montana, to Robert William Fecht and Marjorie June Fehr. When
he was a young boy, the family along with older sister Bobbi moved to
Spokane, Washington, where the family grew to include his two younger
sisters, Rebecca and Brenda.
Bruce went to Mead High School, where he was a standout basketball
player. He continued his education and basketball prowess at Spokane
Community College, eventually completing his electrical engineering
degree at UW.
His first job at AT&T offered the comfort of a 9-to-5 routine, but it
was the thrill of flight that ultimately called to him.
Bruce pursued his dream of becoming a naval aviator, applying to and
being accepted into Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola,
Florida. He was commissioned in 1982, and 1 year later in April 1983,
he received his wings of gold in Beeville, Texas, marking the beginning
of a distinguished career in the skies.
For the next decade, Bruce, call sign Puppy--we will talk about that
in a bit--served with distinction in various squadrons, including the
VF-124 Gunslingers, VF-111 Sundowners, VF-126 Bandits, and VF-1
Wolfpack, flying the iconic F-14A and F-14D Tomcat along with the T-2C,
A4-E, and F-16N.
He completed multiple deployments aboard aircraft carriers like the
USS Carl Vinson, USS Ranger, and USS Enterprise.
He also graduated from Fighter Weapons School, Top Gun, Adversary
Course and earned a master of science degree in systems management from
the University of Southern California.
Bruce was selected as an extra for the movie ``Top Gun,'' and he can
be seen a couple of times, which was filmed on sight in Miramar. He can
be seen in the infamous ``Top Gun'' group photo used in the movie.
Bruce's career was defined not only by his technical skills and
unmatched piloting abilities but also by his leadership. After 14 years
in the cockpit, he transitioned to staff roles, including serving as
the Pol-Mil officer at U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
There, he played a key role in operations in the Middle East, focusing
on Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.
Bruce returned to the cockpit in 1999, joining the VF-14 Tophatters
as executive officer and, later, commanding officer.
Bruce was a man of faith and in the last 2 years of his life, he
earned a master's degree in Catholic theology from Franciscan
University of Steubenville. He planned to retire from General Atomics
and serve as a chaplain. He attended Saint Ann Catholic Church in
Ridgecrest, California, and enjoyed serving meals and singing in the
choir.
Bruce will be forever remembered for his great sense of humor and his
generous heart. He was a faithful son, wonderful brother, and a fun
uncle to his nephews and nieces. His personal relationship with Jesus
Christ took him through his last difficult journey with the strength
and confidence that he can trust his Lord with the outcome of his life.
We will miss him dearly but look forward to the day we will be
reunited in Heaven. Bruce is survived by his sisters, Bobbi, Rebecca,
and Brenda; numerous nieces and nephews; cousins; aunts; friends; and
the countless men and women who were fortunate to serve alongside him.
He leaves behind a legacy of courage, integrity, and commitment to
excellence that will continue to inspire for generations to come.
May he rest in peace.
Honoring Detention Officer Isaiah Patrick Bias
Mr. ELLZEY. Madam Speaker, it is Police Week. In honor of Police
Week, I will recognize two remarkable individuals whose bravery and
dedication serve as examples of heroism in our communities.
First, I honor the life and service of Detention Officer Isaiah
Patrick Bias of Ellis County Sheriff's Office. Last December, Officer
Bias made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his community at the
Ellis County Jail.
He began his journey with the sheriff's office as a teenager in the
Explorer Program, growing into a respected officer known for his
kindness and professionalism.
I had the honor of attending Officer Bias' funeral, where family,
friends, and fellow officers gathered to remember a man who served with
dignity and heart.
Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman spoke of Isaiah's unwavering
dedication and the impact he made on everyone who knew him.
His passing is a powerful reminder during this Police Week of the
dangers faced by our law enforcement officers each and every day. His
memory serves as a beacon of service and courage to us all.
In Recognition of Mollie McCalister
Mr. ELLZEY. Madam Speaker, I next recognize Mollie McCalister.
Mollie is a dispatcher from Cherokee County, whose quick thinking and
intuition saved a life.
Most days, Mollie takes calls about all kinds of things: lost pets,
traffic accidents, and folks just needing a little
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help. Yet, one day, she picked up the phone, and it was different.
A woman called asking about her child's eye prescription. That might
sound like an odd call for 911, but Mollie picked up on something: a
hesitation, a tone in her voice.
She knew something wasn't right. She sensed fear and desperation from
the other side of the phone. Rather than brushing it off, Mollie
followed her instincts. She coordinated with deputies in the area and
sent them to the caller's location.
Thank God she did because that woman was being held at gunpoint.
Madam Speaker, because of her actions, the suspect was arrested, and
that caller is still with us today.
That is real heroism. It is not the kind you read about in big
headlines but the kind that happens every single day in our communities
because people like Mollie are paying attention. She listened. She
cared and because of that, a life was saved. Mollie reminds us that
sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply listen and act.
Today, I was privileged to recognize these two heroes, but I am not
the only one you have heard from today, and these are not the only two
people in my district who deserve recognition.
Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those
incredibly moving tributes and for the words, the memories, and the
recognition.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the 23rd District of
California (Mr. Obernolte), a fellow member of the Committee on Energy
and Commerce.
Tribute to Officer Seth Franklin and Officer Shaun Jarvis
Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives and the
legacies of two remarkable law enforcement officers from California's
Inland Empire: Officer Seth Franklin of the Redlands Police Department,
and Officer Shaun Jarvis of the San Bernardino Police Department.
These two men dedicated their lives to serving and protecting others
not just as officers but as fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers.
Their commitment to their communities was matched only by their love
for their families.
Officer Seth Franklin passed away on April 6, 2025, after a long and
courageous battle with cancer. He was just 34. He is survived by his
wife, two young children, his parents, and three siblings. Seth was
known for his leadership, compassion, and quiet strength; qualities
that define not just his work, but every part of his life.
Officer Shaun Jarvis tragically lost his life on May 1, 2014, in a
motorcycle accident. He was only 30. Shaun left behind his wife,
Rachel; their two young children, Griffin and Aislynn; and his
stepdaughter, Aubrey, who he proudly raised as his own.
He was a deeply devoted family man who made time for the moments that
mattered, whether it was coaching Little League or walking his daughter
to her first day of school year after year after year.
This year, Officer Jarvis' name was added to the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial here in Washington, D.C. His service and
sacrifice are now forever enshrined among the heroes who gave their
lives in the line of duty or while still devoted to their uniform.
Madam Speaker, these men lived with purpose and served with honor.
Their legacies endure in the lives that they touched, the families that
they loved, and the communities that they helped keep safe. We owe them
and their families a debt that we can never fully repay.
I ask my colleagues to join me in offering our deepest condolences
and sincerest gratitude to these two men.
Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Baird), himself a veteran of our United States military.
In Memory of Fred Fislar and Brandon Schreiber
Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for
yielding to me.
Madam Speaker, every single day, our brave men and women in blue
leave their families not knowing if they will return home.
During National Police Week, we pause to show our gratitude for our
law enforcement officers and recognize the sacrifices that they make
every single day to keep our communities safe.
Today, I particularly recognize Fred Fislar from the Hendricks County
Sheriff's Office and Brandon Schreiber from the Newton County Sheriff's
Office, two constituents of mine who tragically lost their lives in the
line of duty in 2024.
Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.
To the law enforcement officers across the State of Indiana, I thank
them for their unwavering courage, dedication, and service to our
communities.
I also thank the families of our law enforcement officers. Their
strength, resilience, and sacrifices should also be honored and
appreciated.
Let this week serve as a reminder that we should always back the
blue.
Additional Recognitions for National Police Week
Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today during National
Police Week in strong support of the law enforcement community and the
men and women I served with in my former career as a police officer as
we all worked together to protect our communities.
Police service runs deep in my blood. In fact, both of my
grandfathers were proud veterans. One of them, my abuelito Cuauhtemoc
Chavez, earned his citizenship in World War II along with two Purple
Hearts.
My other grandfather, Gregory Evans, was a career naval aviator. He
believed that service to this country wasn't just an obligation; it was
a privilege. That belief has shaped who I am today.
From a young age, I was taught that truly loving this country means
being willing to serve, to protect, and to sacrifice for it. That
lesson has stayed with me and led me to serve 12 years in the U.S. Army
and the Colorado Army National Guard, and later to my 10 years of
service with the Arvada Police Department.
Wearing the uniform teaches you so much about leadership, resilience,
and responsibility. It gives a deeper understanding and respect for the
men and women who put themselves in harm's way for others. These are
the people who don't just talk about courage and service; they live it.
During my first term here in Congress, I have made it a priority to
defend and honor our law enforcement officers, especially those who
have given everything in the line of duty.
The very first bill I introduced as a Member of this House was about
defending and uplifting our State and local law enforcement, the UPLIFT
Act.
This bill is about empowering law enforcement officers to do their
jobs and keep our communities safe by extending hold harmless
protections to officers who work with Federal law enforcement to remove
people who are illegally present in our communities and who are
committing other crimes.
In fact, I found out just today that a friend of mine had lost a
daughter, Kaitlyn Weaver, to an illegal immigrant who was driving over
90 miles an hour in a 45-mile-an-hour zone and created a fatal traffic
accident.
Unfortunately, the State that I represent, Colorado, continues to
prioritize the protection of illegal immigrants who commit crimes over
the safety of innocent American citizens like Kaitlyn.
While Colorado has been a sanctuary State for nearly 6 years, the
State legislature continues to handcuff police officers from
cooperating with their Federal law enforcement counterparts. Colorado
also severely restricts local police officers from being able to even
safely and orderly transfer a criminal to Federal custody, which
jeopardizes officer safety and results in our police officers being
assaulted.
My bill, the UPLIFT Act, would help fix this problem. As a former
cop, I will never stop advocating for the protection and well-being of
law enforcement.
While my first bill focused on defending law enforcement, my most
recent one focuses on honoring law enforcement. As someone who has worn
the badge, I know firsthand the sacrifice and commitment that the job
requires.
Law enforcement isn't just a profession. It is a calling. It takes a
special kind of person to wake up every day knowing the risks, knowing
the dangers, and knowing that that might be their last day, and they
still put on the uniform and go to work
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John 15:13 talks about the greatest love that someone has as being
willing to lay down their life for their friends. Police officers
across our country embody that kind of love every single day when they
go out and protect our communities.
When I think about this fundamental principle of law enforcement, I
think about officers from my district. I think about folks like Weld
County Sheriff's Deputy Sam Brownlee.
A devoted husband, father, and stepfather, Deputy Brownlee was
tragically shot and killed in the line of duty in 2010 during a
struggle with a gang member. He served with distinction for 5 years
with the Weld County Sheriff's Department and was always committed to
protecting his community.
Deputy Brownlee's story is one that should never be forgotten. His
sacrifice is a solemn reminder of the risks that our law enforcement
officers face every day and the courage it takes to wear the badge.
That is why I am proud to announce that, this week, during National
Police Week, I introduced a bill to rename the Evans Post Office in
Weld County after Deputy Brownlee to ensure that the community that he
loved is able to properly honor and remember his courage, his service,
and his enduring legacy.
{time} 1845
In a time when law enforcement officers across this country face
growing threats and far too little appreciation, we must do more to
recognize their bravery, their sacrifice, and their families.
This bill is a tribute not just to Deputy Brownlee, but to every
officer who has laid down their life in defense of their community and
the families that they left behind.
I look forward to continuing to build support for this bill with the
Colorado delegation and working to get it signed into law.
Part of my passion in doing this comes from one of these specific
assignments that I had when I was a police officer. I served in a
variety of capacities, but one of the most meaningful was serving as a
member of, a sergeant of, and the lieutenant for our Honor Guard.
The Honor Guard is the agency within a police department that is
responsible for conducting a variety of ceremonies. They do the flag
postings at civic events, but one of the most sacred responsibilities
that they have is honoring the fallen officers who gave their lives in
the line of duty.
I served in that role for several years with my agency and,
unfortunately, I have buried more officers than I can remember starting
with Heath Gumm of the Adams County Sheriff's Department and ending
with Eric Talley from the Boulder Police Department.
There are two officers that I had to bury that I will specifically
mention. The first was my friend and coworker for almost 10 years,
Officer Gordon Beesley of the Arvada Police Department.
Gordon was a school resource officer. He was one of the nicest people
that you would ever meet. In fact, before his ambush and murder, he
actually was making the news because of his work as a school resource
officer who took the time to personally ride his bike to school with a
kid who was having some trouble at that school.
Officer Beesley truly embodied what it meant to serve your community,
to protect your community, and to work alongside your community to make
sure that everyone gets the best possible outcome that they possibly
can. He had a life motto and his life motto was: Find the good. Find
the good in every person and in every situation.
Even though he was a police officer and had to sometimes do things
like put handcuffs on people and hold others accountable, Gordon
Beesley lived by those words every single day. He was a pillar in the
community who truly worked to find the good in every situation.
Another officer from my agency was Officer Dillon Vakoff. Dillon was
actually an Air Force veteran. He served for several years in the
United States Air Force before he became a police officer. Dillon was
actually an officer on one of the units that I commanded. He was one of
my mobile field force officers. I remember training him to be able to
go out and do the requirements of that special assignment.
Dillon was, unfortunately, shot and killed on September 11, 2022,
while he was responding to an altercation that turned deadly.
Dillon also had a motto that he lived by. I can't say it on the floor
of this House, but the acronym for it is NFQ. It means never quit.
Dillon was somebody who never quit. He never quit in his commitment
to his country. He never quit in his commitment to his State. And
Dillon never quit even when he was called upon to make the ultimate
sacrifice and lay down his life in defense of his community.
In many ways Dillon embodies what it means to be a police officer.
Having served for 12 years in the Army and another 10 years in law
enforcement, I often compare military and law enforcement service to
being two sides of the same coin or to use police terminology, two
sides of the same perimeter.
In law enforcement, whenever we have a dangerous situation, we have
to contain that situation to keep the public safe, so we set up what is
called an inner perimeter. We also want to make sure that the rest of
the community does not go into that perimeter.
While you have an inner perimeter of officers who are containing the
situation and who are focused inward, you have an outer perimeter of
officers who are making sure that the innocents stay away from a
potentially hazardous situation or area.
That is how I see the military and law enforcement. Law enforcement
is the inner perimeter. They protect us in our homes, in our
communities, in our schools, in our parks, and on our roadways. The
military protects us from external threats, but they are two sides of
the same coin.
When folks like Dillon or Gordon or Heath Gumm or Eric Talley or so
many others are called upon to make that sacrifice, they are making
that sacrifice from the exact same motivations as the broader community
of military and law enforcement and first responders who are out to
make sure that we stay safe.
At a law enforcement funeral, which, again, I have unfortunately been
to too many of, we honor those sacrifices, and we make two solemn
promises. The first promise is to never forget. We honor that promise
by doing things like what we are doing tonight. We honor that promise
through memorials and through speeches and through memories, through
carrying the actual lives and stories of those who have made the
ultimate sacrifice. Dillon and Gordon are no longer with us, but as
long as we talk about them, as long as we talk about how they lived
their lives, as long as we carry on their mottos, never quit, find the
good, in a small way they are still with us and their memories, their
examples, their courage, their commitment, and their service lives on
through them as long as we never forget.
There is a second promise that we make at law enforcement funerals.
We have the watch from here. Law enforcement is like the thin blue
line, individuals may come and go, but the thin blue line itself never
sleeps, never grows tired. It doesn't fail. It cannot fail. The thin
blue line is what keeps our communities, our country, and our way of
life safe from the threats and the harms and the chaos that would exist
if just for a single day police officers didn't put on the badge and
the uniform and go to work. Individual officers come and go, but the
thin blue line never does.
We make a promise to the fallen who gave the ultimate sacrifice. They
are no longer able to continue in that watch. We do a final radio call,
but then we make a promise. We have the watch from here. For everyone
within the sound of my voice--for the police officers, for the
citizens, for everyone else, that is the action item, that is the
takeaway from this speech. We have the watch from here.
For the police officers, for the first responders, for the families
who serve right alongside their loved ones, know that we will not
forget and that we will stand by you to the absolute utmost of our
abilities because that is what having the watch from here means.
It means that the sacred requirement to protect our communities will
not end. It means that those of us, the living, and particularly the
living who are in this great self-governed society that
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we call the United States of America, it means that we have the
responsibility to work with, to support, to empower, and to protect our
law enforcement officers as they go out into the community and they put
their lives and their families' future on the line to protect us.
As someone who has made those sacred promises too many times at
funerals, it is my honor to stand here today on the floor of the United
States House of Representatives on May 15, police day in police week,
to reaffirm and to challenge all of us to continue with those two
sacred promises: never forget and then go out, be a good citizen, be a
member of a community, support the law enforcement officers, and the
men and women who themselves are physically every day putting on the
badge and the uniform and who are keeping that watch from here.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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