[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18754]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN MARK E. KENNEY OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 18, 2003

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute today to a 
dedicated public servant who has served the city of Springfield and the 
greater community for over 20 years. His leadership and courage have 
touched many lives and it is my great honor to recognize and 
commemorate this extraordinary man.
  Captain Mark Kenney began his career in the Springfield Police 
Department in July of 1971. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1979, to 
Lieutenant in 1987 and to Captain in 1991. During his career his 
assignments and duties stretched far into the heart of the district. 
Mark was the first captain of the community police program and started 
the citizens police academy. This academy was created to teach the 
public the mechanics of the police department and then use this 
information to better the community.
  Mark was deeply involved with many youth organizations and was the 
first captain of the Joseph Budd Youth Assessment Center where he 
commanded the Youth Bureau. In addition, Mark was the first trained 
Drug Abuse Resistance Education instructor, more commonly known as 
D.A.R.E., in Western Massachusetts and headed the D.A.R.E. program for 
many years.
  Trained by the F.B.I. as the first hostage negotiator for the police 
department, Mark used his skills several times during hostage 
situations that were both dangerous and volatile. Mark's skill and 
courage did not go unnoticed. In 1979, after a fire broke out in the 
Kimball Towers, he assisted many people to safety and was awarded a 
commendation for bravery.
  After the tragedy at the World Trade Center on September 11th, Mark 
involved himself immediately and was assigned Captain of the newly 
implemented Central Intelligence Bureau working closely with the F.B.I. 
on all homeland security issues. As the events of September 11th 
attest, police officers serve and protect the nation often at great 
sacrifice to themselves and for this we are immensely grateful.
  Mark is not the only member of his family to dedicate his life to 
protect others. Mark's grandfather and father were police officers 
before him and his son is currently a police officer making four 
generations to serve the Springfield Police Department. I am proud and 
honored to represent such a praiseworthy individual and devoted family 
man.
  Mark's achievements and accomplishments speak to his tremendous love 
and respect for his fellow citizens. I wish him all the best in his 
upcoming retirement and I humbly offer my sincerest thanks and 
gratitude for the lifetime of service he has given.

                          ____________________