[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 25014]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF SERGEANT MICKEY HUTCHENS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to 
remember the life and service of Sergeant Mickey Hutchens, a Winston-
Salem police officer who passed away on Monday surrounded by friends 
and family at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
  Sergeant Hutchens is a North Carolina hero. He gave his life 
protecting the public from a dangerous criminal. Sergeant Hutchens was 
shot last week while pursuing an armed criminal in Winston-Salem. With 
his passing, the Winston-Salem community grieves the loss of one of its 
finest.
  He faithfully served on the police force for 27 years, putting his 
life on the line each day that he showed up for work. We owe him and 
his family a deep debt of gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice that 
Sergeant Hutchens made for the public safety.
  Police officers and public safety workers like him are the key to 
safe communities that are often taken for granted. Great tragedies, 
like Sergeant Hutchens' death, serve to remind us of the heroic work 
done each day by officers like him.
  Sergeant Hutchens was more than just a faithful public servant. He 
was well-known as a man of impeccable character who was committed to 
maintaining his integrity at all costs. He was just the type of person 
you would want wearing the uniform of a police officer.
  He lived a life dedicated not to just keeping his community safe, but 
also to his family and his church. He was a loving and dedicated father 
of two daughters, Jill and Leah, and a faithful, loving husband to his 
wife Beth. He was often found serving in his role as a deacon at 
Forbush Baptist Church.
  Sergeant Hutchens left a noble legacy in his community. He lived to 
serve and protect others. His life is a true inspiration, and I pray 
that his death reminds us of the bravery and sacrifice of those keeping 
our streets safe each day.
  Today, his family, friends and colleagues are in my thoughts and 
prayers as they mourn the loss of a husband, father, brother, friend, 
fellow officer and a North Carolina hero. May they know God's comfort 
during this difficult time.

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