[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1561]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO GREGG CHERRY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2004

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Gregg Cherry who has shown 
a deep commitment to serving and improving his community through his 
work with child services and a career in law enforcement.
  Gregg was born March 29, 1955, to James and Audrey Cherry. He is the 
oldest of five children. He was born and raised in the Bedford-
Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Gregg is a graduate of 
the old Boys High School where he played several positions on the 
football team. His football career continued at Shaw University where 
he received bachelors degrees in English and Communications in 1980. He 
is the loving father of Craig and Raven Cherry.
  It was his love and commitment to his community which led him to a 
career in law enforcement. During his tenure as an investigator and 
caseworker for the Bureau of Child Welfare, Gregg saw the many 
inconsistencies and tragedies children encountered in the child welfare 
system and wanted to make a positive difference. So, in 1984, he joined 
the New York City Police Department.
  He graduated in the first police academy class under the tutelage of 
Benjamin Ward, the first African American Police Commissioner of New 
York City. He began his service at the 79th police precinct. His no-
nonsense attitude quickly gained the respect of his community and peers 
alike.
  For his work, Gregg was honored in 1977 with a Gold Shield as a 
detective. He also served as an organized crime investigator and in the 
vice and narcotics units in the NYPCD. Gregg's other law enforcement 
efforts include work as an Anti Terrorist Profiler, a security monitor 
of Federal installations in the New York area, and an independent 
investigative consultant with the Immigration and Naturalization 
Service.
  After 20 years of stellar service, Gregg retired on January 16th of 
this year and is now planning to pursue a career in Federal law 
enforcement.
  Mr. Speaker, Gregg Cherry has had a long and distinguished career in 
the NYCPD and remains committed to serving his community and country 
with his future employment in Federal law enforcement. As such, he is 
more than worthy of receiving our recognition today; and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

                          ____________________