[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5408]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                PINELLAS PARK POLICE CHIEF DORENE THOMAS

  (Mr. JOLLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize someone who has 
been described as a trailblazer, a pioneer, and a woman of firsts: 
Pinellas Park Police Chief Dorene Thomas who, on this Friday, will 
retire after four decades of public service.
  Thomas became the first sworn female police officer at the Pinellas 
Park Police Department in 1980. In fact, when she started, the evidence 
room was located in the men's locker room, something she would 
eventually change.
  In 2000, Thomas became the department's first female police chief, 
but she often said she would simply prefer to be known as a good police 
chief rather than a female police chief.
  Five years ago, she was elected president of the Florida Police 
Chiefs Association, another first for women. She has also started 
intensive crisis intervention training, which teaches officers how to 
work with people with behavioral or mental health challenges.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize a person who has helped 
keep our citizens safe, to honor a person who has led with courage, 
kindness, grace, and understanding.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in thanking Chief Thomas for her 
selfless years of service. Thank you for making Pinellas County a safer 
place, and thank you to all the men and women who, today, serve on the 
front lines of law enforcement.
  Chief Thomas, enjoy your retirement. You have very well earned it.

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