Recognizing National Police Week 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in solemn recognition of the selfless sacrifice made by law enforcement officers across this great nation and to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty. Ever since President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Officer's Memorial Day, we as a nation have paused to show our support and eternal gratitude for the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting their fellow citizens.

I embrace this opportunity to pay tribute to our fallen law enforcement officers. These are true and brave public servants who made the conscious decision to stand in between the men, women, and children in their communities and those who would do them harm. While these courageous individuals hail from a broad spectrum of social and economic backgrounds, they all share the common instinct to protect and serve their fellow citizens. These officers are husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They understand the perils they face every day when they go to work in service of others, but they are defined by a rare sense of duty and a love for their fellow human beings. They keep our roads and highways safe. They safeguard our property. They secure the event sites and venues where we gather. They respond to incidents of domestic violence and calls for help. They bring criminals to justice. They are the ones who are moving toward the sound of the gunfire when everyone else is running away.

Law enforcement officers engage in thousands of face-to-face encounters throughout their careers. They do so in most cases without knowing, even in the midst of the encounter, if the individual or individuals they are confronting are in need of their help or intend to harm them. Too often, these encounters end tragically. 128 officers died in the line of duty in 2019. Including officers identified from previous years, 307 names will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial here in Washington, D.C. this year. Eight of those names are from my home state of Maryland.

Officer Kyle David Olinger was a husband, a father, and a Police Officer in the Montgomery County Police Department. On August 8th, 2003, while serving the citizens of my home district, he initiated a traffic stop in Silver Spring, MD on a vehicle with three passengers. Officer Olinger observed one of the occupants attempting to conceal a handgun under the seat, and he ordered the man to drop the weapon. A struggle ensued, and Officer Olinger was shot in the neck and paralyzed below the chest. Despite his wounds, Officer Olinger, a former U.S. Marine, continued to serve his department until his injuries forced him to retire in 2007, demonstrating the type of man he was and his commitment to the service of others. On April 18th, 2019, Officer Olinger succumbed to complications from the gunshot wound he suffered in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Beyond recognizing the bravery and sacrifice of law enforcement professionals like Officer Olinger, we must acknowledge the sacrifices made by their loved ones. Every day our officers leave for work, their families must live with the anxiety of knowing that they may not return home. The burden of the profession is not just borne by officers themselves. Their family members endure these circumstances for the benefit of others--in exchange for all the pain and suffering that is prevented by the actions of these dedicated officers. So, today we salute not only the fallen officers, but the loving families that supported them in their very challenging profession.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring all the courageous men and women who have taken the oath to protect and serve, and who have fallen in the line of duty. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice, and they will not be forgotten.

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