[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3591]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO CHIEF RANDALL W. GASTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 1999

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the career 
of Chief Randall W. Gaston of the Anaheim Police Department. On 
February 25, 1999, at age 54, Chief Gaston passed away at the Anaheim 
Memorial Medical Center. Chief Gaston is survived by his wife Linda and 
has four grown children, Allison, Bryan, Aaron and Debbie and two 
grandchildren.
  The Anaheim Police Department is said to have been run as a family 
under the leadership of Chief Gaston. As a 9-year old, I remember 
becoming a part of this family when I was named Anaheim Police Chief 
for the day. I toured the station, met the officers and saw firsthand 
the inner workings of the department. I remember I felt very welcome.
  Chief Gaston began working for the Anaheim Police Department in 1965. 
Randy rose quickly through the Department and was promoted to 
Lieutenant in 1973. In 1982, Randy graduated from the FBI National 
Academy in Quantico, Virginia and was later promoted to Captain in 
1983. On January 11, 1994, Randy was appointed Chief of Police.
  During his tenure, crime rates fell 12% over the span of 2 years in 
Orange County. This tremendous achievement has been made possible only 
through the hard work, dedication to duty and personal sacrifice 
inspired by Chief Gaston.
  Randy is remembered as an honest man who often laughed at himself and 
who enjoyed staying out of the limelight. Yet his community policing 
program is recognized as a model for American police forces and for 
safer communities around the world. He will take with him a remarkable 
ability to integrate local community volunteers into the police force 
structure to help combat crime.
  I submit for the record an article from February 26, 1999, of the Los 
Angeles Times which further describes Chief Gaston's outstanding 
achievements.
  While Chief Gaston's leadership will be missed at our Police 
Department, all citizens of Orange County should take comfort that the 
Anaheim Police Department will evoke his spirit and legacy through 
their continued efforts to better our community.
  I want to thank Chief Gaston for his service to our fine city, and 
for his bravery and selfless dedication to his career and his 
community. This man was a genuine community leader. He not only did his 
job well, he loved it, and the community he served. We are safe because 
of his sacrifice.

        [From the latimes.com, Neighborhood News, Feb. 26, 1999]


                    ANAHEIM POLICE CHIEF GASTON DIES

                     (By Jason Kandel, Nancy Wride)


   Obituary: A 30-year veteran of the department, he collapses while 
                    jogging with his fellow officers

       Anaheim Police Chief Randall Gaston, a 30-year veteran of 
     the department he led for more than five years, died Thursday 
     of an apparent heart attack as he was jogging on his lunch 
     hour. He was 54.
       Gaston was on a group run in Pearson Park with members of 
     the Anaheim Police Department's special weapons and tactics 
     team when he became ill and dropped out, then collapsed. He 
     was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation by colleagues but 
     could not be revived. An emergency rescue team transported 
     him to Anaheim Memorial Medical Center, where he died at 
     12:55 p.m. Gaston had filled a vacancy created by the death 
     of Chief Joseph T. Molloy, who also died of a heart attack 
     while exercising. He too was 54.
       Shocked and grieving associates remembered Gaston as a 
     highly respected law-enforcement officer and community 
     leader. ``As a leader and professional, Chief Gaston was a 
     model public servant,'' Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly said. ``His 
     dedication to the community has been remarkable, and he will 
     be difficult to replace.'' Scores of uniformed officers and 
     staff workers gathered Thursday afternoon at the Police 
     Department for a flag-lowering ceremony in Gaston's memory. A 
     photo of the chief was displayed in the lobby, surrounded by 
     red, white and blue flowers.
       Police Capt. Roger Baker, appointed interim chief by City 
     Manager James D. Ruth, said of Gaston: ``He was highly 
     respected by the Anaheim Police Department and the community 
     and will be greatly missed.''
       Former La Habra Police Chief Steve Staveley was a friend of 
     Gaston for more than 30 years.

     

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