[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26121]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO CHIEF JOHN McNIFF

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 2003

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the 
life and work of an exceptional individual who I am proud to represent 
in Congress, Bloomfield Police Chief John McNiff. Chief McNiff was 
honored by the Essex County Policemen's Benevolent Association on 
Friday, October 24, 2003, for his tireless commitment to serving his 
community.
  Chief John McNiff has dedicated the past seventeen years to 
guaranteeing the safety and well-being of the men, women, and children 
of Bloomfield, a beautiful community located in the heart of my 
district. He has begun a tradition of excellence in the Bloomfield 
Police Department--a tradition which, under his continued direction, 
will continue long into the future. It is only fitting that he be 
honored, in this, the permanent record of the greatest freely elected 
body on earth.
  During a period in our history when hometown security has become such 
a critical issue, Chief McNiff has worked diligently to ensure the 
continued efficiency and effectiveness of the Bloomfield Police 
Department, while fostering its close relationship with the community. 
He has initiated programs designed to increase the capacity of his 
police officers to act as first responders, and balanced these programs 
with community-based initiatives geared toward maintaining a high 
quality of life for the citizens of Bloomfield.
  Among the many innovative and successful programs that Chief McNiff 
has instated are the D.A.R.E. program, the Anti-Crime Squad, the 
Bloomfield/Newark Border Patrol, and the Community Policing Unit. Under 
his leadership, the Bloomfield Police Department has collectively 
worked with the Auto Theft Task Force and the Essex County Prosecutor's 
Narcotics Unit. Largely as a result of Chief McNiff's extraordinary 
vision and guidance, the Bloomfield Police Department now ranks among 
the best in Essex County, New Jersey.
  The services rendered to the people of Bloomfield by John McNiff have 
been widely recognized. Chief McNiff has received commendations from 
organizations representing all levels of local, State, and Federal law 
enforcement, and has been publicly honored for his service both by the 
New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly. Most recently, John 
McNiff was the recipient of the distinguished John I. Crecco 
Foundation's ``Public Safety Award'' and was recognized by the Ancient 
Order of the Hibernians for his work.
  The job of a United States Congressman involves so much that is 
rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing individuals who have 
devoted themselves to serving the special needs of the people in their 
community. The integrity, dedication, and skilled leadership that Chief 
John McNiff has brought to the Township of Bloomfield is beyond 
compare.
  I ask that you join our colleagues, the Essex County PBA, and me in 
gratefully recognizing the invaluable services that Chief John McNiff 
has provided to the men and women of Bloomfield, New Jersey.

                          ____________________