National Police Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend, the Representative who we affectionately call Chief Demings, for organizing this Special Order hour. You don't get many friends like Congresswoman Demings. She is a true leader; she is thoughtful; and she is a true public servant.

I join her, Mr. Speaker, this National Police Week to honor and remember the officers who lost their lives last year in the line of duty.

I can remember, years ago, traveling with my colleagues from the Indiana State Excise Police to honor my colleague's dad, who passed away in a high-speed pursuit on State Road 231. He was the sheriff, Sheriff Jim Baugh of Putnam County, and we came out here years ago to honor Mr. Baugh.

Though nothing can bring back the lives that have been lost or ease the collective grief we feel, we take comfort in knowing that we will never forget them or the sacrifices they have made.

We pledge, Mr. Speaker, to keep their legacy alive through our efforts to improve policing for every community, for all Americans.

As a former law enforcement officer, this priority is deeply personal. I want to pay special tribute to all the law enforcement officers in my district who are working to keep our city safe and build greater trust with the neighborhoods they serve.

I also want to honor the Hoosier officers statewide who have lost their lives. One such officer I would like to recognize is Officer Breann Leath, an Indianapolis Metro Police Department officer who was shot and killed last April while responding to a domestic disturbance.

She was 24 years old, Mr. Speaker, a veteran of the National Guard, the mother of a young son, and part of a family and a proud legacy of law enforcement. She had her whole life and a great career ahead of her, only to have it tragically cut short.

Today and every day, Mr. Speaker, we honor her and those like her who have been killed in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, I would also be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to recognize the countless Americans who we have lost to police brutality.

In Indianapolis alone, and in communities across our country, the list grows longer each day. We must honor their memory and commit to enacting reforms that save lives in the future.

Now, let's be clear, Mr. Speaker. We are not advocating for these reforms in order to punish police or to make their jobs harder. We also want to improve their lives as well. We want to provide police with better training and the right resources. We want to help police build stronger and healthier relationships with the communities they serve.

We also want police to be able to focus on keeping the peace and relieve them of their many other duties that they are expected to do even when they are not trained or equipped to carry out these additional duties.

As a former law enforcement officer and as a Black man who has been the victim of police excess and misconduct, it is clear to me that these changes are desperately needed.

We can improve policing and save lives by passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The House has done its work and passed it twice, last year and this year. Now, the Senate must be bold and pass it as soon as possible so President Biden can sign it into law.

Thank you again to all the law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep Americans safe, and a special thanks to those we have lost.

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