[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 263]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our 
Nation's law enforcement professionals--the first responders, the 
Capitol Police here in the Nation's Capital who keep us safe here, and 
those who answer the call of duty to serve and protect, families and 
friends throughout our great Nation.
  Just after 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 14, Baltimore police officer 
Andrew Groman and his partner made a routine traffic stop outside a 
west Baltimore gas station. Moments later, three shots were fired from 
the backseat of the car, one striking Officer Groman in the abdomen, 
just below his bulletproof vest.
  As other officers chased the suspect, Officer Groman's partner rushed 
him to the hospital where he was forced into emergency surgery. His 
family was called in from Pennsylvania to be by his side. You see, 
Officer Groman is a Bucks County native. His family still lives in my 
congressional district. A former Bucks County volunteer firefighter, 
Officer Groman had moved to Maryland to continue his service, this time 
in law enforcement.
  While I am happy to tell you he is recovering well, it is terrible to 
think that he just as easily might have been killed in the line of 
duty, attacked while performing his duty, which was his passion to 
serve and protect, conjuring names from our area like Daniel Faulkner, 
Brian Gregg, and Brad Fox, who also gave the ultimate sacrifice.
  While Andrew's Bucks County roots bring the story close to home for 
many in my district, the sad truth is that we know the service and 
sacrifice of law enforcement officers is a dangerous, and sometimes 
deadly, job and one that, sadly, often goes underappreciated.
  Our Nation's blue line, the first responders, local, State, and 
Federal police and law enforcement professionals, often represent the 
height of both heroism and humbleness. While I take every opportunity I 
can to meet with and to hear from those who protect the communities in 
which we live, I am always left wishing that there is more to be said 
than a ``thank you.''
  This week we are proud to participate in Law Enforcement Appreciation 
Day, the effort of a number of partnering organizations committed to 
raising awareness and showing appreciation for the more than 780,000 
officers who serve and protect our neighborhoods, friends, and families 
nationwide. This week, on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, 
there is opportunity for all of us to show our support for those who 
wear blue and to recommit ourselves to the ideals and laws of our 
Nation that they are tasked to uphold. Together we can address the 
challenges our Nation faces head-on without partisanship, division, or 
hate.

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