[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H4371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING JARED KNEALE

  (Mrs. Sykes of Ohio was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to speak out on an important 
issue impacting this Nation and my community in Ohio.
  As you may know, September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to 
pause and recognize mental health and the tragedy of taking one's own 
life.
  Today, I rise with both a heavy heart and a hopeful spirit, because 
while my community has felt the devastating toll of suicide, I also 
believe in the power of advocacy and awareness in order to save lives.
  Suicide Prevention Month is an opportunity for us to reflect and 
discuss stigmas around mental health and affirm, once again, that 
mental health care is healthcare.
  Today, I will specifically address the sacrifices of our police 
officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders. These 
are the women and men running toward danger while others flee for 
safety.
  At the end of the day, after news stories publish details of their 
heroism, the weight of the trauma may linger long after sirens fade.
  In 2021, the CDC acknowledged that law enforcement officers and 
firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of 
duty.
  Jared Kneale is one such story from northeast Ohio. Born on October 
5, 1981, in Euclid, Ohio, Jared graduated from Wadsworth High School in 
the year 2000. After working for the city of Wadsworth as a fireman and 
paramedic for 15 years, Jared transferred to the nearby city of Canton, 
Ohio, in Ohio's 13th Congressional District where he would serve his 
community for 8 years.
  On Friday, May 17, 2024, northeast Ohio and Ohio's 13th District lost 
a dutiful public servant and a loving husband, father, grandfather, and 
friend.
  The Canton Fire Department would later announce in a post on social 
media that Kneale's death was the result of a suicide due to a post-
traumatic stress-related illness and that in his final moments, Jared 
signaled to us his wishes to use his death to help bring awareness to 
firefighter mental health. That is why I stand today before you, Mr. 
Speaker, to do exactly that and carry out Jared's last wishes.
  Mr. Speaker, far too many suffer in silence, afraid of judgment or 
showing signs of weakness, but it is time we stand up for those who run 
toward danger, that we acknowledge our collective strength far 
surpasses the individual, and that asking for help is truly the 
greatest form of strength.
  Rarely have I seen a better example of this than in the immediate 
aftermath of Jared's passing. Upon hearing about the tragedy, over 70 
firefighters descended upon the local hospital to pay their respects.
  As my community continues to grieve, cases like Jared's cannot be 
ignored because when we invest in mental health, we invest in all of 
our communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I will take a moment to talk a little bit about Jared 
and his life and the person that he was.
  Jared, who worked with the 2nd Battalion and was assigned to ladder 
truck one, was loved by his colleagues. During his tenure with the city 
of Canton, he earned two Medals of Commendation and two meritorious 
citations for heroic actions on the job.
  He was the head chef at station one


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On September 17, 2025, page H4371, in the second column, the 
following appeared: He was the head chief at station one
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: He was the head 
chef at station one


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  and took great pride in sharing meals with his colleagues. Jared was 
  known for his infectious laughter and he was the ringleader of the 
  pranks at the station.He also had a love for peanut butter M&M's and 
Chewy SweeTARTS, always making sure his candy was stocked, knowing full 
well the rest of his crew would sneak handfuls out of his locker.
  Jared was a devoted husband to his wife, Carrie, and a loving father 
to his six children: Tim, Shaunna, Caden, Aidan, Olivia, and Isabella. 
He was a fan of the Cleveland Browns, loved riding his Harley, and was 
a talented carpenter and mechanic. Behind every uniform is a person 
just like Jared who feels, grieves, and may struggle to cope with the 
toll of the demands of their work.
  According to the National Firefighters Association, 20 percent of 
firefighters and paramedics meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress 
at some point during their careers. Additionally, the suicide rate for 
firefighters is much higher for them than the general public. The 
connection between PTSD and traumatic rescue work is quite clear. We, 
as a legislative body, must do more to ensure that first responders 
never have to carry this burden alone. We also, as human beings, must 
do more to be there for one another.
  In the wake of Jared's passing, the Canton Fire Department said: ``We 
urge our fellow brothers and sisters to reach out to one another.'' We 
must remember that we have more in common than we do that separates us. 
We must do more to reach out and care for our neighbors who are 
struggling.
  Before I take my seat, Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that everyone 
knows that if you are struggling, if you know someone who is 
struggling, you can call or text 9-8-8 for personalized support during 
these difficult times. They are not alone.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I thank Jared's family for allowing me to share 
his story and uplift a firefighter and someone who is so very important 
to our community but lost their life tragically.

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