[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF ELYRIA POLICE OFFICER JAMES KERSTETTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SUTTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor 
the life and service of Elyria Police Officer James Kerstetter.
  On March 15, Officer Kerstetter was tragically shot and killed in the 
line of duty while responding to a domestic call. He made the ultimate 
sacrifice, putting his life on the line to protect another.
  Officer Kerstetter was a committed public servant. He was a member of 
the department for 15 years. He was a member of the SWAT team and 
taught the rookie officers at the department. He was the lead crash 
investigator, and prior to joining the police force he served with the 
Lorain County Sheriff's Department.
  But even more importantly, he was the loving and devoted husband of 
wife Tammy and the proud father of three daughters--Misty, Shelby, and 
Bailey.
  James Kerstetter was known as ``Sponge'' to his fellow officers and 
was affectionately called ``Jimmy'' by his family. Jimmy was a humble 
family man, a loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. He never 
wished for the spotlight, but he touched the lives of people all across 
the community with his outgoing spirit. His death has been a shock to 
his family, the city of Elyria, and numerous communities throughout 
Ohio.
  Over the past weeks, we have seen just how much he meant to so very 
many. Jimmy knew that his family and the city of Elyria are worth the 
service that he dedicated himself to, a community he grew up in, he 
served in, and he embraced. His memory will live on in the hearts of 
family, friends, and the community of Elyria that he touched so very 
deeply. He is and always will be a community hero, a national hero.

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