[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7974]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

  Mrs. CARNAHAN. Mr. President, I am proud to take this opportunity to 
recognize National Police Week 2001 and the immeasurable contributions 
of our Nation's law enforcement officers. In both urban and rural 
communities, these men and women touch the lives of all those around 
them. Today, I urge all Americans to join together in commemorating the 
tremendous service and sacrifice of our Nation's law enforcement 
officers.
  We have made great strides since the 1970s, when we lost 
approximately 220 officers every year through the decade. That figure 
decreased dramatically in the 1990s to 155 fallen officers each year. 
Yet, each one of these lives is one too many. And it is with great 
sorrow that I note that Missouri leads the Nation in losing nine law 
enforcement officers in the past eleven months. We may take comfort 
only in recognizing and honoring the ultimate sacrifice that each of 
these individuals has made to their community, to their State, and to 
their Nation. We owe these officers and their family an unending debt 
of gratitude. They will always be remembered.
  The efforts of police officers and chiefs, sheriffs, and highway 
patrol are largely responsible for the seven percent decrease in crime 
rates over most of the last decade. In return for their valiant courage 
in protecting our streets, our homes, and our families, we must strive 
to find measures that will better protect our law enforcement officers. 
I will join my fellow Senators in looking for ways to ensure that 
sufficient safeguards are in place. In the meantime, I take this 
opportunity to express my gratitude to these men and women and their 
families. God bless these heroes among us.

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