[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 166 (Wednesday, October 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S7040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING CHARLES RILEY AND TRIBUTE TO BRETT STASSI

  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, on Monday evening, a tragedy occurred at 
the courthouse building in Plaquemine, LA. Captain Brett Stassi, Jr., 
of the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office, the son of the Parish 
Sheriff, Sheriff Stassi, and Deputy Charles Riley were shot by a 
suspect they were booking in connection with a sexual assault case.
  Here, you see their pictures.
  The two officers were taken to the hospital. Deputy Riley, a 6-year 
veteran of the Iberville Sheriff's Office, husband and father, died.
  Captain Stassi, I am told, has undergone several surgeries and is in 
critical but stable condition.
  A tragedy like this reminds us that law enforcement officers put 
their lives on the line for us every single day. We can never take that 
for granted.
  Deputy Riley gave his life protecting our community booking somebody 
for sexual assault, a horrific crime--booking him, and he himself was 
killed, an even more horrific crime.
  We pray for the close friends of both, the loved ones of both, those 
who grieve the loss of someone they looked up to and will deeply miss.
  Our hearts are with the fellow deputies who are hurting and the whole 
Plaquemine and Iberville Parish community. We pray and hope for Captain 
Stassi's strength and full recovery and, of course, for his wife and 
family.
  The support we get from law enforcement, their willingness to put 
themselves in harm's way, can never be repaid. We take it for granted 
until it no longer can be done so.
  We support law enforcement. We support those suffering in the wake of 
this tragedy.
  I yield the floor.

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