[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2279]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE SAN MATEO SHERIFF'S OFFICE

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
celebrate the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department on their 
Sesquicentennial Anniversary. The Department is the oldest and largest 
law enforcement agency in San Mateo County, California, located in my 
Congressional District.
  The San Mateo County Sheriff's Department history begins with the 
formation of the County of San Mateo in 1856. Residents of the 
Peninsula watched as John W. Ackerson was sworn in as the first sheriff 
of San Mateo County. He had three total staff members, an Undersheriff, 
bailiff of the Courts and a jailer. There weren't even patrol duties 
for the office.
  Mr. Speaker, today, from those humble beginnings, the San Mateo 
Sheriff's Office has grown to a force of 450 officers and is 
responsible for everything from patrolling the county to running the 
courts and the correctional facilities. They have exemplary task 
forces, specializing in narcotics, regional terrorist threat assessment 
and emergency services among others. Today, the Sheriff's Office is 
still the Chief Law Enforcement Agency of the County of San Mateo.
  Mr. Speaker, since 1993 the Sheriff's Office has been most ably led 
by Sheriff Don Horsley. In fact, Sheriff Horsley picked out the badge 
marking the 150th anniversary of the Sheriff's Office. The 
commemorative badge replicates the Old West style that Sheriff Ackerson 
would have worn. I dearly appreciate their extraordinary service that 
they provide to the County and I ask my colleagues to join me in paying 
tribute to the San Mateo Sheriff's Office for the honorable duty they 
have performed for the last 150 years.

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