[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13430]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   THE CAPTURE OF ERIC ROBERT RUDOLPH

 Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, I rise today to express pride and 
thanks for the excellent police work done by North Carolina law 
enforcement over the weekend, work that led to the capture of Eric 
Robert Rudolph, the alleged terrorist who had eluded capture for more 
than 5 years.
  I am particularly proud of the fact that two of North Carolina's 
finest--Jeff Postell, a rookie officer in the Murphy Police Department 
and Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Matthews--were responsible 
for brining Rudolph in.
  I can't say enough about these exemplary lawmen, who represent the 
best that North Carolina and America have to offer--dedicated public 
servants risking their lives to make us safer. I will never forget the 
pride I felt as I watched Officer Postell, squinting in the glare of 
unasked for limelight, modestly dismiss praise for his actions by 
stating, ``It was my job.''
  His job, indeed. As it is the job of thousands and thousands of other 
first responders in North Carolina and throughout the country. Men and 
women who day in and day out put their lives on the line to ensure our 
safety and ask so little in return. The least we can do for these brave 
public servants is to show our support for their efforts in meaningful 
ways. One of the most meaningful ways we can do this is to do more than 
just pay lip service to their efforts while cutting programs, funding, 
and benefits they so desperately need.
  That is why it makes no sense that, instead of bolstering the efforts 
of our first responders, the administration is slashing the very 
programs that we need to help ensure a strong homeland defense. Just 
look at the COPS program--a program that has directly benefited the 
Murphy Police Department and Cherokee County law enforcement. Since it 
was created as part of a 1994 crime bill, the COPS program has helped 
communities hire more than 116,000 police officers nationwide.
  We all know how important and effective the COPS program is. So why 
is President Bush proposing only $164 million for the COPS program next 
year, an 85 percent cut from the $1.1 billion that was spent in 2002? 
It is just plain wrong to, on the one hand, praise, take credit for, 
the fine work done by our local law enforcement day in and day out 
while, with the other hand, snatch away the funding that makes their 
work possible.
  Yes, Officer Postell was just doing his job. And thanks to him, we 
can sleep a little easier. But now it is time for us to do our jobs. 
Let's give Officer Postell and his colleagues the tools they need to 
keep doing the work we need and appreciate so much.

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