[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14956]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING CHIEF MELVIN H. WEARING ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 16, 2003

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to join 
residents of New Haven who have gathered today to celebrate the long 
and distinguished career of Chief Melvin H. Wearing who is retiring 
after thirty-five years of dedicated service to the New Haven Police 
Department. As an advocate, a community leader, and a friend, Mel 
Wearing has dedicated his career to the betterment of this region.
  Chief Wearing joined the Department as a patrolman in 1968, and 
through hard work and perseverance he worked his way up through the 
ranks. As a Sergeant, he was the commanding officer of the Narcotics 
Enforcement Unit and while a Lieutenant served as the Chief of 
Detectives for the Investigative Services Unit. He would go on to 
become the first African-American to serve as the Assistant Chief of 
Police and, in 1997, was sworn in as New Haven's first African-American 
Chief of Police. Throughout his career, Chief Wearing has demonstrated 
a unique commitment to the Department, the City, and the families of 
New Haven--a dedication which is reflected in the myriad of honors, 
commendations, and awards which have been presented to him throughout 
his tenure.
  Chief Wearing was a leader in working with children traumatized by 
violence. He was a founding member of the Yale Child Study Center's 
Child Development/Community Policing Program (CDCP), and he spent 
countless hours teaching others how to deal with children and families 
who were exposed to violent crime. Chief Wearing's involvement with 
this project helped it to become a national and international model for 
community based policing.
  Under Chief Wearing's leadership, the Department has been recognized 
locally, nationally and internationally. The New England Community-
Police Partnership, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the 
International Association of Chiefs of Police are just a few of the 
agencies and organizations that have honored Chief Wearing and the 
Department for their work here in New Haven. He was twice asked to 
address audiences at the White House on children exposed to violent 
crime, he was the featured speaker at the 1999 National Summit on 
Children Exposed to Violence, and he co-authored the important book 
``The Police-Mental Health Partnership: A Community-Based Response to 
Urban Violence.'' Chief Wearing is clearly one of the most respected 
law enforcement officials in the country. New Haven has certainly been 
fortunate to have him call our city home for so many years.
  For all of his good work and many invaluable contributions to our 
community, I am proud to rise today to join his wife, Tina; his 
children, Tracy, Melvin, Jackie, and Sharon; his grandchildren Marcus 
and Maurice; and many others to extend my heart-felt congratulations to 
Chief Melvin H. Wearing as he celebrates his retirement. His is a 
legacy that will inspire many generations to come. And I hope he 
accepts my very best wishes to him and his family for many more years 
of health and happiness.

                          ____________________