[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12831]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO RICHARD LAPOINT

 Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 
exceptional public service of my good friend, Pittsburg Police Chief 
Richard ``Dick'' Lapoint. Chief Lapoint has worked as a Pittsburg, NH 
law enforcement officer for more than 40 years. He is retiring on 
August 16, 2015, the day after Pittsburg's 175th Old Home Day 
celebration.
  Chief Lapoint is a 1968 graduate of Pittsburg High School, and first 
began his law enforcement career as a part-time officer in August 1975. 
After working part-time for 11 years, he became a sergeant, and was 
later promoted to the department's full-time chief on January 16, 1987. 
Having held the position for more than 28 years, Chief Lapoint is one 
of the longest serving police chiefs in the Granite State.
  Throughout his career, Chief Lapoint has established a reputation not 
only as a knowledgeable, respected, and compassionate public safety 
professional, but also as an engaged community member. Chief Lapoint 
knows that in a small town, public safety means wearing many hats. He 
was a member of the fire department for 36 years and an emergency 
medical technician for over 20 years. Known for his advocacy of 
cooperative North Country policing, he was a leader in uniting local, 
county, State, and Federal agencies to share information, train, and 
work together. He also served as the president of the Coos County 
Chiefs Association, and has built strong partnerships with colleagues 
throughout the public safety community.
  During my time as New Hampshire's attorney general, it was my 
privilege to work directly with Chief Lapoint on many important law 
enforcement initiatives. He earned the respect and admiration of his 
peers across the State, and has been a thoughtful and effective leader 
in efforts to improve the criminal justice system throughout New 
Hampshire. Additionally, Chief Lapoint served on the executive board of 
the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, and has represented 
Coos County with professionalism and integrity throughout his entire 
membership. Making frequent trips to Concord and southern New 
Hampshire, he ensured that our Great Northern Woods had an important 
voice on public safety issues.
  As Chief Lapoint celebrates his retirement, I want to commend him on 
a job well done, and ask my colleagues to join me in thanking him for 
his outstanding service and in wishing him the best in all his future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________