[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5284]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  LOSS OF FEDERAL AGENT DAVID WILHELM

  Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, tragedy struck Atlanta, GA this past 
Friday, March 11, 2005. A quiet day in a county courthouse turned into 
a horrific shooting spree that took the lives of four innocent people 
throughout the Georgia capital. Among those who fell victim that day 
was U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Special Agent-
in-Charge David Wilhelm, who was shot and killed while working to 
finish his Atlanta home. Friday's heartbreak touches everyone in this 
country, and is sincerely felt in my hometown of Salisbury, NC, which 
Special Agent David Wilhelm also called home.
  David Wilhelm is remembered as a true patriot, whose commitment to 
hard work, justice, and the enforcement of the law were admired by all 
who knew him. After graduating from West Rowan High School in 1982, 
Special Agent Wilhelm earned a criminal justice degree at the 
University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He began his Federal service 
as a U.S. Customs Agent in June 1987, in Beaufort, SC, and also served 
in Charlotte, NC and Norfolk, VA before relocating to Atlanta, GA last 
November. In Atlanta, he was second in command, managing the U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations involving financial 
crimes, narcotics smuggling, human smuggling, and customs violations. 
His law enforcement colleagues knew him to be tenacious professionally 
and a superb team-builder with ace investigative skills and a generous 
spirit.
  David Wilhelm's 18-year commitment to Federal service is most 
commendable. He spent 16 years with the U.S. Customs Service and 2 
years with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 2001, he was 
recognized for his dedication and was awarded the prestigious U.S. 
Customs Service Blue Eagle Award for work on an important narcotics 
smuggling case resulting in the seizure of approximately two tons of 
marijuana and $2.4 million in cash. The Blue Eagle Award is bestowed 
annually for significant work that goes beyond the expected daily 
duties.
  I have immense respect for the many Federal law enforcement agents 
who risk their lives daily to protect Americans. I am truly saddened by 
the loss of David Wilhelm, and my thoughts and prayers are certainly 
with his wife Candee, his brother Patrick, who serves as an Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement Agent in Atlanta, GA, and all his family and 
friends. May Special Agent David Wilhelm's dedication, sense of duty 
and honor never be forgotten. In addition, I would like to send my 
sincere condolences to the families, friends, and co-workers of the 
other three victims of Friday's violence, Judge Rowland Barnes, court 
reporter Julie Ann Brandau, and Sergeant Hoyt Teasley of the Fulton 
County Sheriff's Department.

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