[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6732]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING FALLEN KANSAS POLICE OFFICERS

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, earlier today I attended a memorial service 
to honor our Nation's law enforcement officers who laid down their 
lives to protect their fellow citizens. Since 1962, May 15 has stood as 
a day of remembrance for the many fallen police officers who faithfully 
served our communities and our Nation. They must never be forgotten.
  This year 362 names were added to the National Law Enforcement 
Officers Memorial, and among those names were three brave officers from 
Kansas. Two of these men died in the line of duty many years ago, but 
we paused today to remember their sacrifice.
  In 1892 Andrew Balfour of Kiowa County was filling his duties as a 
local sheriff and pursuing a man who was wanted for theft when he was 
mortally wounded. Andrew passed away at the young age of 41, leaving 
behind a wife and six children.
  In 1992, William Bloomfield, a deputy sheriff, was serving in Bourbon 
County and arresting a well-known killer when he was killed during a 
fierce gun battle.
  These two men were killed while carrying out their duties. Rather 
than shirk from danger, police officers face danger with courage, and 
that is exactly what these two men did.
  Just 5 months ago, Kansans were grieved by the loss of another 
officer, SGT David Enzbrenner of Atchison, KS. On December 9, 2001, 
David joined a fellow officer on a routine call to see a local 
resident. As they were turning to leave the front steps of the home, a 
person suddenly appeared and opened fire on David without warning. This 
act of violence was unprovoked and forever robbed the Enzbrenner family 
of their father, husband, and the Atchison community of a loyal public 
servant.
  When we lose someone in a community in Kansas, it is not just a name 
to us. It is somebody we go to church with, it is somebody we see at 
our kids' activities at school, it is somebody we know and care for. 
That is how Atchison felt about David.
  In remembering David, Atchison Mayor Allen Reavis said:

       He was No. 1 father, No. 1 husband, No. 1 partner to his 
     fellow officers, No. 1 son.

  Inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington are 
these words:

       It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it 
     is how they lived.

  Police Chief Mike Wilson served alongside David for 24 years and 
referred to the words inscribed on the National Law Enforcement 
Memorial when he said this about his former colleague and friend:

       Those words speak directly to David. How true about our 
     brother.

  David was dedicated to his family, his fellow law enforcement 
officers, and his community. He was well known in Atchison and well 
loved. David attended high school there and served in the Atchison 
Police Department for 24 years. David was also on the board of trustees 
at his local church and found great joy in teaching and coaching his 
daughters on their softball teams.
  Last December I witnessed the impact that David had on the local 
community when I attended his memorial service and more than 2,000 
people gathered to pay their respects to him. During the service, many 
moving tributes were read about David and how he lived his life. One 
that stood out from among the others was a statement from David's wife 
Kerri. She said this about her husband:

       David was a man of few words. He always tried to keep a 
     simple life. And when I questioned things, he would remind me 
     that it's okay sometimes not to understand.

  We don't fully understand. We don't understand at all why David's 
life was taken or why the lives of more than 19,000 officers we 
remembered today ended so soon. But we express our gratitude for their 
service and dedication to their communities and to our country.
  During National Police Week, we also remember their families and the 
loved ones they left behind. May God comfort them in their time of 
grief and be a source of strength for them. May he also protect all 
those who continue to serve today.
  I want to especially mention David Enzbrenner's wife Kerri and his 
three teenage daughters Avery, Abbi, and Celia. I want them to know we 
honor the way David lived his life and tell them we love and care for 
them today and always.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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