[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7616]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                THE MERRILL S. PARKS, JR., FBI BUILDING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 1999

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
will name the soon- to-be completed Federal Bureau of Investigation 
building in downtown New Haven in memory of Special Agent Merrill S. 
Parks, Jr. It is an honor to do so.
  Before his untimely death earlier this month, Merrill Parks served as 
special agent in charge for the State of Connecticut, a post he held 
since 1994. During his time in New Haven, Special Agent Parks gained 
the respect and admiration of local law enforcement, and it was at 
their suggestion, and the urging of those he served most closely within 
the New Haven FBI office, that the new FBI building bear his name.
  During his 30-year career, Special Agent Parks battled organized 
crime in the FBI's New York Division and worked with the Drug 
Enforcement Agency in the fight against drugs. Before coming to New 
Haven in 1994, Parks served with distinction as the Assistant Special 
Agent in charge of the Houston, TX, division.
  It is altogether fitting that agents based in New Haven will work in 
a building named for a man who exemplified the best in law enforcement. 
I would also like to include in the Record a letter of support from FBI 
Director Louis J. Freeh and to thank him for his support.
  Most of all, I want to pass along my deepest condolences to the 
family of Special Agent Parks. I hope to see them in New Haven very 
soon when we officially unveil the Merrill S. Parks, Jr., Federal 
Building.

                                            Department of Justice,


                               Federal Bureau of Investigation

                                                   Washington, DC.
     Hon. Rosa DeLauro,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman DeLauro: I want to thank you for 
     agreeing to sponsor legislation naming the new federal 
     building that will house the FBI's New Haven Field Office 
     after Merrill S. Parks, Jr. Merrill was, until his recent 
     death, the Special Agent in Charge of the office, and a 
     widely respected member of the local law enforcement 
     community. He had a long and distinguished career with the 
     FBI.
       All of us at the FBI support this endeavor. It seems a 
     fitting tribute to an agent who devoted his life to public 
     service and public safety.
       I am hoping that your leadership on this matter will ensure 
     its swift passage. From all of us at the FBI, I want to again 
     express our gratitude for your attention to this matter, and 
     your continuing support for law enforcement.
           Sincerely yours,

                                               Louis J. Freeh,

                                                         Director.

     

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