[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6560]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SULLY DISTRICT POLICE 
                            STATION SHOOTING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, it was seven years ago today that two 
Fairfax County police officers were killed outside the Sully District 
Police Station in a tragedy that galvanized our community. I was 
Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at the time. Master 
Police Officer Michael Garbarino and Detective Vicki Armel showed 
tremendous courage, heroism, and self-sacrifice in protecting their 
fellow officers when a troubled young man launched an assault on the 
station with an arsenal of high-powered weapons. They were the first 
officers to be killed in the line of duty in the Fairfax County Police 
Department's 72-year history.
   MPO Garbarino, 53, had just returned to the station and was sitting 
in his cruiser, preparing to go off duty, when he was shot. Detective 
Armel, 40, was at her car nearby, preparing to respond to a report of a 
carjacking. We later discovered that the shooter, 18-year-old Michael 
Kennedy, had a history of mental illness. The assailant stole a van and 
drove to the station armed with two rifles and five handguns. Detective 
Armel immediately returned fire, but she was fatally wounded when a 
high-powered round pierced her protective vest. She died on scene. 
Despite his injuries, MPO Garbarino was able to use his police radio to 
call for assistance and provide tactical information to responding 
officers that led to the killing of the shooter and prevented further 
casualties at the Sully Police Station. In standing their posts, they 
saved other lives.
   MPO Garbarino was transported to the hospital in critical condition 
and succumbed to his injuries nine days later. He was a 23-year veteran 
of the Fairfax County Police Department. He was a mentor to many young 
people in our community and regularly volunteered at one of the local 
alternative high schools. He is survived by his wife, Susan, their two 
children, his parents, and a sister.
   Detective Armel was a 17-year law enforcement veteran. A graduate of 
Fairfax High School, she spent eight years with the Fairfax Sheriff's 
Department before transferring to the Police Department. She was active 
in the Mountain View Community Church in Culpeper, and she is survived 
by her husband, Tyler, who also serves as a detective in Fairfax, and 
their two children.
   This tragedy was a grim reminder that we can never take for granted 
the outstanding work of our men and women in blue who put themselves in 
harm's way every day to keep our families and neighborhoods safe. The 
remarkable heroism and bravery displayed by MPO Garbarino and Detective 
Armel exemplifies the valor of all our public safety personnel and 
first responders and reflects their commitment to our community.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the 
memory of these outstanding police officers and extending our 
condolences to their families. They and their brothers and sisters in 
the public safety community are deserving of our highest praise and 
appreciation.

                          ____________________