[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 12765-12767]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING POLICE OFFICERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS DURING 
                              POLICE WEEK

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 426) honoring police officers and law 
enforcement professionals during Police Week.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 426

       Whereas President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation 
     declaring May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor 
     law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and to 
     designate the calendar week in which May 15th occurs as 
     Police Week;
       Whereas police officers protect communities across our 
     Nation;
       Whereas police officers selflessly put their lives on the 
     line to keep Americans safe;
       Whereas police officers perform a variety of duties to 
     pursue justice and maintain public safety;
       Whereas in just the last decade, hundreds of police 
     officers were killed in the line of duty, and in just the 
     first four months of 2009 more than 40 officers around the 
     country have made the ultimate sacrifice; and
       Whereas police officers and law enforcement personnel have 
     been adversely affected by the current economic situation, 
     yet continue to serve bravely: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
       (A) Police Week provides an opportunity to honor police 
     officers and law enforcement personnel for their selfless 
     acts of bravery;
       (B) police officers and law enforcement personnel risk 
     their lives daily to protect Americans; and
       (C) police officers and law enforcement personnel who have 
     made the ultimate sacrifice should be remembered and honored;
       (2) the House of Representatives honors police officers for 
     their efforts to create safer and more secure communities; 
     and
       (3) the House of Representatives expresses its strong 
     support for the Nation's police officers and law enforcement 
     personnel.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution honors police officers and law 
enforcement professionals during Police Week. In 1962, President 
Kennedy proclaimed the week in which May 15 occurs to be Police Week. 
For over 40 years, the week of May 15 has continued to be the time to 
honor men and women in our Nation's law enforcement agencies, who 
protect our neighborhoods, our homes, and our loved ones.
  The men and women who dedicate their careers to our safety do so at 
the expense of spending long hours away from their own families, 
putting themselves at great risk--and, in too many instances, making 
the ultimate sacrifice.
  In fact, we have lost over 20,000 officers in the line of duty over 
the course of our history. Since January 1 of this year, we've lost 48 
officers--five since the beginning of this month alone. Yet regardless 
of the continuing danger, day after day, and year after year, these 
dedicated professionals continue to make the sacrifices for their 
communities, without asking for thanks or praise.
  And so the law enforcement professionals and police officers who toil 
in our communities across the Nation deserve our unwavering support and 
our thankful recognition.
  I commend the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney) for 
introducing this resolution and for giving the House of Representatives 
the opportunity to show respect and admiration for our law enforcement 
professionals. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney) 
for introducing H. Res. 426, which honors police officers and law 
enforcement professionals during National Police Week. I'm pleased to 
cosponsor this resolution that supports the brave men and women who 
wear the badge, as well as all the professionals who support them in 
their mission throughout the country, especially their families.
  As they continue to protect and serve, we take a moment to salute 
them for everything that they do every day, much of which goes 
unnoticed. We're able to go about our daily routines because officers 
in small towns

[[Page 12766]]

and big cities and in rural areas throughout this country stand ready 
to take those risks on our behalf.
  Each year, 50,000--50,000--peace officers are assaulted in the United 
States. On May 17, 1792, New York City's Deputy Sheriff Isaac Smith 
became the first recorded police officer to be killed in the line of 
duty in the United States. Since that time, 19,705 peace officers have 
been killed while on duty protecting the rest of us.
  In 2008, 140 officers died in the line of duty while upholding the 
values that make this country great--duty, honor, sacrifice. Those 
values and their sacrifice are a somber reminder that the freedoms that 
we share do not come without a cost. Of those 140, 10 percent, or 14, 
were from my home State of Texas.
  Sadly, already in 2009, 48 peace officers have died in the line of 
duty. Once again, 10 percent from the State of Texas. This number 
includes two additional officers since I spoke on the House floor about 
peace officers 5 days ago. Those individuals, Sergeant Dulan Earl 
Murray, Jr. from the Nags Head Police Department in North Carolina, and 
Deputy Sheriff Tom Wilson from Warren County Sheriff's Department in 
Mississippi, died over the weekend while on duty.
  In 1961, Congress created Peace Officers Memorial Day and designated 
it to be commemorated each year on May 15. Correspondingly, each year, 
the President issues a proclamation naming May 15 as National Peace 
Officers Memorial Day.
  I'm proud to sponsor this year's resolution to recognize Peace 
Officer Memorial Day, which passed the House unanimously in February of 
this year. Peace Officer Memorial Day takes place during National 
Police Week, which was held in Washington, D.C. last week.
  Many of the families, friends, and colleagues of these fallen 
officers came to Washington last week to remember them as mothers and 
fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and friends of their 
communities, guarding all of us.
  They came together to celebrate in many ways. They participated in 
candlelight vigils and torch runs, they broke bread and shared stories, 
but more importantly, they honored and remembered the fallen. Today, we 
do as well.
  Those officers have no doubt returned to serve their communities 
while quietly making all of our lives a little better.
  We commemorate the 186 officers that died in 2008 and 2009, and all 
law enforcement officers that have died in the line of duty while 
representing every State, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, 
as well as Federal law enforcement and the military police.
  Today, we thank them the best way that we can in the House of 
Representatives. I urge people across the country to similarly thank 
them for their service with a simple smile or a handshake or a thank 
you.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman who, prior to coming to Congress, was a law enforcement 
professional himself, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak).
  Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I stand today in 
support of House Resolution 426, a resolution offered by our friend, 
Mr. McNerney from California. This resolution is to recognize Police 
Week and all the law enforcement officers across the country that keep 
us and our communities safe.
  As a former city police officer and as a Michigan State police 
trooper, law enforcement has always been a legislative priority for me. 
When I was elected to Congress 17 years ago, I was surprised to learn 
that there was no formal organization within Congress to advocate on 
behalf of law enforcement. So I founded the Law Enforcement Caucus with 
the help of then-Democratic caucus chairman Steny Hoyer.
  Today, the Law Enforcement Caucus has 110 members and we hold regular 
briefings throughout the year. I'm proud to be cochair of the caucus, 
along with my friend Dave Reichert, the gentleman from the State of 
Washington.
  As you know, this is a time of great change for the law enforcement 
community. During an economic downturn, there's an increase in crime 
and in the drug trade. Many in Washington have paid a lot of attention 
to the integral role that law enforcement plays in protecting our 
country. But the Federal Government has to do more than talk about the 
problem. We must also provide resources, training, and equipment to 
ensure that it is there for local law enforcement.
  We made a strong commitment to this goal by providing $3 billion in 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for law enforcement 
programs. This effort must continue as we consider fiscal year 2010 
appropriation bills. After all, our law enforcement officers are on the 
front lines every day, keeping us and our communities safe.
  I urge my colleagues to not only support this resolution honoring 
Police Week, but support law enforcement programs by fully funding the 
Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, the Community Oriented Policing 
Services grants, and many Federal programs that have gone underfunded 
when the need is ever growing.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the sponsor of this important resolution, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McNerney).
  Mr. McNERNEY. I rise in proud support of H. Res. 426. I thank the 
gentleman from Texas for his words and support. We're basically here to 
honor police officers and law enforcement professionals.
  I introduced this resolution last Tuesday in recognition of National 
Police Week. H. Res. 426 commends police officers and law enforcement 
professionals for the hard and often dangerous work they perform to 
keep us safe.
  Almost 47 years ago, in October of 1962, President John F. Kennedy 
signed a resolution designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day 
and the week in which it occurs as Police Week. Since then, police 
officers have held events during Police Week honoring their fallen 
brethren and officers who worked tirelessly to keep us safe.

                              {time}  1345

  May 15 just passed, but our law enforcement officials should be 
celebrated daily.
  So far this year more than 40 officers from around the country have 
lost their lives in the line of duty. Four officers from California, 
including Sergeants Mark Dunakin of Tracy and Ervin Romans of Danville, 
both from my district, were killed earlier this year. My thoughts and 
prayers are with the families and loved ones of these dedicated 
officers.
  In honor of their memory and in thanks for the hard work and selfless 
dedication of our Nation's police officers and law enforcement 
professionals, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. These 
brave men and women deserve our respect and gratitude. I further 
encourage my colleagues to support our law enforcement professionals 
not just during Police Week but every day of the year.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Virginia and the gentleman from California for proposing this 
legislation. Also, we need to constantly remember that we here in the 
United States Capitol are protected daily by the Capitol Police, two of 
whom just a few years ago gave their lives protecting Members of 
Congress.
  I would also like to introduce into the Record the names of the 19 
police officers from the State of Texas who have been killed in 2008 
and 2009.
       In 2008, 140 peace officers were killed. Of these fallen 
     officers, 14 were from Texas:
       Deputy Constable David Joubert, Harris County Constable's 
     Office--Precinct 7, TX, EOW: Sunday, January 13, 2008.
       Police Officer Matthew B. Thebeau, Corpus Christi Police 
     Department, TX, EOW: Sunday, January 20, 2008.
       Corporal Harry Thielepape, Harris County Constable's 
     Office--Precinct 6, TX, EOW: Wednesday, February 20, 2008.

[[Page 12767]]

       Senior Corporal Victor A. Lozada Sr., Dallas Police 
     Department, TX, EOW: Friday, February 22, 2008.
       Trooper James Scott Burns, Texas Department of Public 
     Safety--Texas Highway Patrol, TX, EOW: Tuesday, April 29, 
     2008.
       Police Officer Everett William Dennis, Carthage Police 
     Department, TX, EOW: Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
       Sergeant Barbara Jean Shumate, Texas Department of Criminal 
     Justice, TX, EOW: Friday, June 13, 2008.
       Police Officer Gary Gryder, Houston Police Department, TX, 
     EOW: Sunday, June 29, 2008.
       Detective Tommy Keen, Harris County Sheriff's Department, 
     TX, EOW: Monday, September 15, 2008.
       Game Warden George Harold Whatley Jr., Texas Parks and 
     Wildlife Department--Law Enforcement Division, TX, EOW: 
     Friday, October 10, 2008.
       Sheriff Brent Lee, Trinity County Sheriff's Department, TX, 
     EOW: Thursday, November 27, 2008.
       Police Officer Robert Davis, San Antonio Police Department, 
     TX, EOW: Monday, December 1, 2008.
       Police Officer Timothy Abernethy, Houston Police 
     Department, TX, EOW: Sunday, December 7, 2008.
       Police Officer Mark Simmons, Amarillo Police Department, 
     TX, EOW: Wednesday, December 17, 2008.
       In 2009, 48 officers have died in the line of duty. 5 of 
     these officers were from Texas:
       Senior Corporal Norman Smith, Dallas Police Department, TX, 
     EOW: Tuesday, January 6, 2009.
       Detention Officer Cesar Arreola, El Paso County Sheriff's 
     Office, TX, EOW: Sunday, January 18, 2009.
       Lieutenant Stuart J. Alexander, Corpus Christi Police 
     Department, TX, EOW: Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
       Sergeant Randy White, Bridgeport Police Department, TX, 
     EOW: Thursday, April 2, 2009.
       Deputy Sheriff D. Robert Harvey, Lubbock County Sheriff's 
     Department, TX, EOW: Sunday, April 26, 2009.

  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas, the 
gentleman from California and the gentleman from Michigan for their 
strong support of this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 426, a 
resolution that honors and celebrates National Peace Officers' Memorial 
Service Observance Day on May 15, 2009 and National Police Week, May 
11-15, 2009.
  President John F. Kennedy first proclaimed May 15th as National Peace 
Officers' Memorial Day. Every year on this day, we celebrate the lives 
and honor the deaths of our fallen law enforcement officers. We also 
recognize the important role that our peace officers play in the daily 
lives of all citizens, and the responsibilities, hazards, and 
sacrifices of their work.
  As a former police officer, I salute those law enforcement officers 
who died in the line of duty in 2008 and continue to honor those police 
officers who gave their lives in past years. I join my colleagues on 
the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus in urging continued support 
for programs, such as the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) 
program, to hire additional police officers and help law enforcement 
acquire the latest crime-fighting technologies.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and paying 
respect to our fallen heroes. In these difficult and changing times, we 
honor their work to protect our communities and families and promote 
safety and peace on our streets. I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 426, ``Honoring police officers and law enforcement 
professionals during Police Week''. I would like to thank my colleague 
Representative Jerry McNerney, as well as the co-sponsors, for 
introducing this resolution.
  I stand in support of this important resolution, because police 
officers of every rank and from every walk of life are working every 
day to keep communities across our nation safe. These hard working men 
and women perform a variety of duties to pursue justice and maintain 
public safety, and selflessly put their lives on the line to keep their 
neighbors and countrymen safe.
  These Americans are reminded of these threats all too often--in just 
the last decade, hundreds of police officers were killed in the line of 
duty, and in just the first four months of 2009 more than 40 officers 
around the country have made the ultimate sacrifice. And as if that 
weren't bad enough, police officers and law enforcement personnel have 
been not been immune to the collapse of our economy, and have been 
adversely affected by the current economic situation.
  In my home city of Houston, nearly 70 officers of the law have been 
killed in the line of duty, and 11 police officers have fallen in the 
past decade alone.
  The most recent tragedy came less than six months ago, when Police 
Officer Timothy Scott Abernethy was shot and killed during a foot 
pursuit of a suspect who fled following a traffic stop. Officer 
Abernethy had lost sight of the man as he chased him around a building 
in an apartment complex. After going around the corner the man hid 
behind a gate and then shot the officer in the head as he ran by. Tim 
was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he succumbed to his 
wounds a short time later. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, 
parents, and siblings.
  Before him, there was Police Officer Gary Allen Gryder. He was struck 
and killed by a drunk driver while directing traffic at a construction 
site on the Katy Freeway. The drunk driver drove through a barricade 
and struck Officer Gryder and another officer without braking. The 
vehicle continued until striking a brick wall. Gryder is survived by 
his wife, son, step-daughter, two grandchildren, parents, and two 
sisters.
  And before either of them, there was Officer Rodney Joseph Johnson. 
Officer Johnson had stopped a large white pickup truck occupied by a 
man and woman on Randolph at Braniff, just south of Hobby Airport, at 
about 5:30 p.m. He placed the male driver--who, it would turn out, was 
in the country illegally--under arrest after he was unable to produce a 
drivers license. After handcuffing the male, he placed him in the 
backseat of the patrol car and then returned to the driver's seat. The 
subject in the backseat was able to move his hands to his front, 
retrieve a concealed handgun, and then shot Officer Johnson in the back 
of the head four times.
  Despite being fatally wounded, Officer Johnson was able to push an 
emergency button, alerting dispatch to the incident. When other 
officers arrived, the male was still handcuffed and sitting in the 
patrol car, and the weapon was recovered. Officer Johnson was taken to 
Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
  For these reasons, and more, our country has found respect for these 
brave men and women throughout its history. In 1962, President John F. 
Kennedy signed a proclamation declaring May 15 as Peace Officers 
Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of 
duty, and to designate the calendar week in which May 15 occurs as 
Police Week.
  And it is this tradition that we continue today, as this body, the 
House of Representatives, honors police officers for their efforts to 
create safer and more secure communities, and who risk their lives 
daily to protect Americans.
  I wholeheartedly agree with my colleagues that Police Week provides 
an opportunity to honor police officers and law enforcement personnel 
for their selfless acts of bravery, and that police officers and law 
enforcement personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice should be 
remembered and honored.
  So let there be no doubt that the House of Representatives expresses 
its strong support for the Nation's police officers and law enforcement 
personnel.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 426.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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