[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20504]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 THE RETIREMENT OF SHERIFF BILL BREWER

 Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I have often heard it said that 
Wyoming is such a remarkable place to live because of the remarkable 
people who live there. For my part, I can not only assure you that it 
is true, but I have the proof in the form of one of the stories of our 
remarkable citizenry that I would like to share with my colleagues 
today.
  In just a few weeks, Bill Brewer will be retiring after serving for 
26 years as our Sheriff for Park Country. All told, he will be closing 
the books on a career in law enforcement that totals almost 40 years.
  As a former Mayor, I know full well the importance of a good Sheriff 
in city and county management and the important role law enforcement 
plays in the services we provide to the citizens of our communities. If 
nothing else, good city and county government demands that we ensure 
the safety of our people to the fullest extent possible. That is why 
law enforcement officers like Bill Brewer are so important in the day 
to day life of our communities.
  Sheriff Brewer has been an integral part of the daily life of the 
community of Cody and Park County since 1972, when he became the 
Sheriff of Park County. Over the years, he proved to be instrumental in 
bringing the Cody Police Department and the Park County Sheriff's 
Department together as he worked to bring both offices into the modern 
age. Through his efforts, he was able to improve the technology both 
offices have come to depend on as they became more effective and 
responsive to the needs of the people of the area. Thanks to his 
dedication to improving the system he was a part of, numerable changes 
were made in the way the offices communicated with each other. And 
thanks to his willingness to try new things, the kind of information 
they exchanged and the speed with which it was shared increased 
dramatically.
  Sheriff Brewer's vision and commitment to making a difference in his 
corner of the world did not go unnoticed through the years, and he was 
named Wyoming Peace Officer of the Year in 1981. The award was 
presented to him to recognize his devotion to duty as well as his 
dedication and commitment to improving the tools his officers had 
access to in the performance of their daily duties.
  For example, in the 1980's, Sheriff Brewer's foresight and commitment 
to ensuring Cody and Park County had the most modern crime fighting 
tools possible led him to create a SWAT team for the County. Although 
there was quite a bit of dissension about the formation of such a 
force, it proved to be an important addition to the law enforcement 
team of the area when there was a shooting at a bar in Cody. The 
perpetrators fled the scene and barricaded themselves in a cabin. It 
was then up to the newly formed SWAT team to capture them and bring 
them to justice. They were subsequently convicted and the story was 
broadcast across the nation as part of a television series of law 
enforcement.
  In addition to his duties as a Sheriff, Bill has also been very 
involved with the youth of the community. He was a boxing coach and 
referee, as well as a baseball and basketball coach.
  I would be remiss if I didn't also point out Bill's participation in 
the music community of the area. He plays the banjo and the guitar and 
he and his father played with the Wyoming Fiddlers Association. He also 
enjoys playing horseshoes and now that he's retired, I have no doubt 
that he is going to get into a lot more activities in the years to 
come.
  Bill Brewer will long be remembered for all he has done to make his 
community a better place to live. For his almost forty years of 
service, he has made a huge difference in his neck of the woods of 
Wyoming. There is no way to measure all Bill has accomplished as 
Sheriff and the lives he has touched in all his activities. A lot of 
the area bears his remarkable and gentle touch and is better for his 
having passed by.
  Now, I have a hunch Bill and his remarkable wife Janet won't be 
slowing down so much as changing gears and direction in retirement. I 
wish them all the best in whatever they decide to do in the coming 
years. After all, Bill has done all we could have asked him to do, and 
more, for almost forty years. I hope he and Janet enjoy their 
retirement. They have been a great team for Park County and Wyoming and 
they have earned it.

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