[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Honoring Sergeant Scott Ries

  Mr. HUSTED. Mr. President, every day the men and women of law 
enforcement leave home not knowing what they will encounter. They live 
life with the uncertainty of what the next hazard is that they might 
encounter during the call that they receive to go protect and serve. 
Sergeant Scott Ries was shot and killed responding to one of those 
calls, and today I rise to honor one of Ohio's bravest sons, Sergeant 
Ries. We lost him on July 5, 2026, just a couple weeks ago.
  Sergeant Ries served and protected his community until the very last 
moment when he was on one of those calls and was shot and killed and 
lost his life, and we all mourn his loss. Today, I want to take a few 
moments to honor his life, his service, and his legacy.
  Sergeant Ries was 54 years old and a native of Doylestown. He was a 
10-year veteran of the Rittman Police Department.
  Before joining the Rittman Police Department, he served as a deputy 
with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and as an officer with the Sugar 
Grove Police Department. You can see Sergeant Ries right there.
  His colleagues remember him as someone who wanted people to know that 
when they called for his help, he would be there for them. And he was a 
person to respond with kindness and a community spirit.
  Sergeant Ries was a devoted husband and father. I had a chance a few 
days ago to speak with his wonderful wife Michelle. He is remembered as 
someone who was deeply involved in his family's life, especially 
supporting his daughter's cheerleading activities.
  Each year, in fact, Sergeant Ries and his wife Michelle volunteered 
their time raising money in a fundraiser for the cheerleaders. They 
would organize the dunk tank. Anybody that grew up in a small town 
knows what the dunk tank is. Pay a few dollars to throw a ball and dunk 
the police sergeant, and that is what Scott would do.
  They helped support the cheerleading program, but it was one of the 
many things that he would do to help give back to his community and 
support life in a small town--a small, rural town in Ohio.
  Sergeant Ries was also an alumnus of the Chippewa Local Schools and 
remained actively involved with the school long after graduation. A 
police sergeant in a small town, Chippewa Schools, is an important 
local leader, an important example, a mentor, someone to look up to, 
and that is who Scott Ries was. He certainly was that kind of figure in 
his local community.
  Sergeant Ries was a dedicated public servant who put his life on the 
line every day and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his 
community in responding to a violent call. But there is no way he could 
know it would have been his last because he responded as a dedicated 
public servant in law enforcement every single time he got the call.
  His wife and children and loved ones and fellow officers remain in 
our prayers. I know how hard it is for them, having talked to several 
of them during the course of the last few weeks. They loved Scott, and 
it was hard for them, as you would expect, to confront his tragic loss. 
And we will mourn him. We will mourn his loss, honor his life that was 
defined by community, sacrifice, service, and courage.
  So Sergeant Scott Ries gave his life protecting his community and his 
neighbors. I thank my colleagues for giving me a few moments to hear 
his story and to join me in honoring his service and celebrating his 
life.
  So many times, so many days, these public servants, these law 
enforcement officials, are asked to show courage and give to their 
communities, and they do it humbly, as Scott Ries did for so many 
years. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to confront the tragedy of them 
losing their lives in service to their communities. We do that in 
honoring the life and service of Scott Ries.
  I want to say to his wife Michelle and to his children and his 
colleagues in law enforcement that we will keep you in our prayers, we 
mourn his loss, and we honor his service.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.