[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19744]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ROSLYN McGRUDER CLARK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 4, 1999

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
late Roslyn McGruder Clark, a native of Miami who passed away Saturday 
of a brain aneurysm at the age of 48.
  Roslyn Clark was a precious asset to our community. Her enthusiasm 
for her work, her compassion for other people, and her dedication to 
public service speak to the very best tradition of police service.
  Roslyn was simply an outstanding law enforcement officer. She worked 
hard, and she worked smart. Education was extremely important to her. 
She was a graduate of Miami's Jackson Senior High School. She held a 
Master of Science degree from Biscayne College, and had completed 
graduate course work at Florida Atlantic University and at the 
University of Miami.
  Roslyn Clark's tremendous abilities were recognized by her superiors. 
She attained the rank of major and was the highest-ranked African-
American female police officer in the Miami-Dade Police Department. Her 
task was to head the Northside Police Station in the Liberty City area 
of Miami, considered by many to be the most violent area in Dade 
County.
  Roslyn Clark did not shrink from this challenge; she welcomed it. For 
she had grown up in this area. She knew the people, and she knew the 
problems. Even more important, she was a talented leader who knew how 
to make the police force work for the community. She used every tool 
available to her--personnel, training, community groups, educators. She 
forged relationships with residents and young people. Because of her 
work and under her direction, the neighborhood began to improve. This 
is an important part of her legacy.
  Major Roslyn McGruder Clark is survived by her husband, Edgar Clark, 
her son Keenan, her stepson Edgar Clark, Jr., and by her maternal 
grandmother, Mrs. Helen Ward. I extend to them, on behalf of our entire 
community, my heartfelt sympathy at their loss, which is our loss.
  From this day forward, whenever men and women of determination and 
good will talk about those in our community who made a positive 
contribution, whey will remember Roslyn Clark.

                          ____________________