[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8286]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              DES MOINES POLICE OFFICERS HONORED FOR VALOR

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I have come to the floor today to 
salute the achievement of four Des Moines police officers who received 
richly earned recognition from the National Association of Police 
Organizations last week at the TOP COPS Awards here in Washington.
  Every year for the past 13 years, the National Association of Police 
Organizations has presented awards to outstanding law enforcement 
officers across the country for their actions above and beyond the call 
of duty. This year, Captain Kelly Willis, Sergeant Jeff Edwards, and 
Officers Chris Hardy and Robert Clark, all of the Des Moines Police 
Department, were recognized for their professionalism and valor in 
saving the life of a teenage robbery suspect.
  Last winter, when officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle being 
driven, the suspect, a teenager from Nebraska, abandoned the vehicle 
and attempted to swim across the icy waters of the Des Moines River. 
Sergeant Edwards and Officer Hardy realized the teen was in trouble 
when the suspect grew tired and his head went under water. They 
understood the risks of entering the frigid river; nonetheless, they 
jumped in after the teen and attempted to pull him ashore. Captain 
Willis and Officer Clark also entered the river to assist with the 
rescue. After pulling the teenager to shore, Officer Clark performed 
CPR on the unconscious teen, who was taken to the hospital in critical 
condition but eventually recovered.
  I congratulate these four public servants for their courageous 
actions last winter. Law enforcement officers are often required to 
make life-or-death decisions in a split second. This requires superb 
training and excellent judgment, which these four officers clearly 
possess in abundance. The people of Des Moines are very fortunate to be 
served by such outstanding professionals. I thank these four officers 
for their service, and I congratulate them on their well-deserved 
recognition by their peers at the TOP COP Awards program last 
week.

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