[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO MUNCIE SHERIFF IN SNIPER ARREST

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2006

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, a tragic tale of death and sniper shootings 
over the weekend has turned into a bittersweet success story for law 
enforcement in my home state of Indiana.
  Early Sunday morning, after leaving a relative's hunting party on a 
Washington County farm, Zachariah Blanton, a 17-year-old Gaston, 
Indiana native, committed four shootings--two along Interstate 65 in 
Jackson County and another pair along Interstate 69 in Delaware County.
  The previous two left Jerry Ross, age 40 of New Albany, dead and 
another man injured.
  Mr. Speaker, this tale is all too familiar to those living in the 50-
mile radius of this very Chamber from which we speak today. For it was 
October of 2002 when the hearts of the American people were troubled by 
barbaric acts of terror that felled innocent women, men, and even 
children, in the vicinity of our Nation's Capital.
  Whatever the motivation, the acts of John Allen Muhammad in 
Washington and Zachariah Blanton are acts of terror. These perpetrators 
defied civilized behavior and believed they could defy the finest 
local, State, and Federal law enforcement in the world. How wrong they 
were.
  Mr. Speaker, Zachariah Blanton was apprehended by Indiana law 
enforcement on Tuesday of this week, just two days after his heinous 
crimes.
  Compared to the sad slayings that paralyzed Washington for nearly two 
months in 2002, one can only stand in honor and amazement at the quick 
end to the events of this week in the Hoosier State.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the coordination efforts of the Indiana State 
Police with Jackson County officials, but rise with particular 
deference to Sheriff George Sheridan and his Delaware County Department 
of whom the residents of East Central Indiana are most proud this 
morning.
  Mr. Speaker, the nation is watching Delaware County and Sheriff 
George Sheridan, and the nation is impressed.
  On behalf of the residents of east central Indiana, I offer a 
heartfelt thanks to Sheriff George Sheridan and all law enforcement 
officials across the Hoosier State. God Bless you for your hard work.

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