[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6697]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ALISHA MATHIAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2005

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alisha Mathias, the 
Boyertown Area Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
  Officer Mathias has been a member of the Colebrookdale Township 
Police Department since February of 1999 and has made countless 
contributions to her community over the past six years. Prior to 
becoming a police officer, Mathias was a Montgomery County emergency 
dispatcher and a Montgomery County deputy sheriff. During that time, 
she also assisted in Camp Cadet program and was a D.A.R.E. instructor, 
working to give kids the life skills they need to avoid involvement 
with drugs, gangs, and violence.
  When Officer Mathias went to the Police Academy in Montgomery County, 
she was the only female in her class of 30. After graduation, Officer 
Mathias further proved her competence when she was awarded the 
Meritorious Service Award for her valiant efforts in the arrest of 
several car thieves in the surrounding area.
  Officer Mathias has her roots in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She 
attended Pottsgrove High School and today she lives in Oley, 
Pennsylvania. Prior to moving to Oley last year, Officer Mathias lived 
in the Boyertown area for 6 years with her husband, Rodney, and her two 
young boys, Ayden and Kellen.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing 
Officer Alisha Mathias for her years of exemplary service to the 
Boyertown community and for her notable community service 
contributions. It is an honor to stand before you to congratulate 
Alisha Mathias, one of Boyertown, Pennsylvania's most distinguished 
citizens.

                          ____________________