[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9517]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 A TRIBUTE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, on June 9, 2000, at the annual 
State Conference of the Fraternal Order of Police in Lansing, Michigan, 
there will be a memorial service honoring seventy-four law enforcement 
officers who have died over the past year, four of whom died in the 
line of duty. I rise today in their memory, and to thank them 
posthumously for their many courageous efforts.
  There is perhaps no greater sign of dedication to a community than 
risking one's life to protect it. Law enforcement officers do this on a 
daily basis. They risk their lives to ensure that our streets and our 
neighborhoods are safe. We must not let ourselves forget the incredible 
dedication that these men and women have to the people they protect. 
Theirs should not be a thankless job.
  Mr. President, the comfort, the protection, and the safety that we 
enjoy often comes at a very high price to the law enforcement officers 
themselves. Last year, in the State of Michigan, four officers were 
killed in the line of duty. In the name of protecting our communities, 
and our families, they left behind their own communities, and their own 
families.
  As a tribute to these four officers, Mr. President, I would like to 
have their names inserted into the Congressional Record:
  Officer Leslie (Les) Keely of the Flint Police Department, Trooper 
Frederick Hardy, Michigan State Police, Detroit Post, Trooper Rick Lee 
Johnson, Michigan State Police, Paw Paw Post, Officer Gary Priess, 
DeWitt Township Police.
  I do this not only on behalf of myself, but on behalf of all of my 
constituents, as a symbol of our appreciation and our gratitude for the 
work that law enforcement officers do every day throughout the State of 
Michigan. While this is a small gesture, I hope it will hold some 
meaning to their families and their fellow officers.

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