Back the Blue: National Police Week

Floor Speech

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Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, as National Police Week gets underway and we prepare for the coming days of solemn tributes and remembrances of our brave men and women in blue and green here in our Nation's Capital and across the country, it is more important than ever that we stand here united as House Republicans and share our appreciation for all that our heroes do every single day to keep us safe.

National Police Week is a time to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our safety and security and to express our gratitude and support to those who continue to serve and protect our communities across the country.

As the proud Representative of Florida's Third Congressional District and the wife of a first responder, I have witnessed firsthand the courage and dedication of our local law enforcement officers.

They are the ones who respond to emergencies, prevent crimes, and uphold the laws in our communities. They are the ones who face danger and uncertainty every time they put on their uniform. They are the ones who leave their families behind not knowing if they will return home safely.

Like so many spouses, when my husband puts on his SWAT medic vest for a callout, I feel that twinge of uncertainty, and I hug him just a little tighter.

It is a unique feeling to us--the people who love those who serve-- and, of course, we all pray that our loved ones return home safely.

Before my colleagues take the floor and share their appreciation for our men and women in blue and green, I briefly want to share with you, Mr. Speaker, some of the stories of the fallen heroes from my district in Florida who have touched our lives and our hearts with their service.

In Alachua County, we remember Deputy Sheriff Kenterrous Taylor who was killed in a single-vehicle crash while responding to a domestic violence call on March 12, 2020. He was only 27 years old and had served with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office for less than 1 year. He is survived by his fiancee, his son, his parents, and his siblings.

In Gilchrist County we remember Sergeant Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey of the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Department who were brazenly attacked and killed while on a lunch break in Trenton, Florida, on April 19, 2018. Sergeant Ramirez had served with Gilchrist County for 7 years and is survived by his wife and two children. Deputy Lindsey, who was only 25, is survived by his parents and his grandparents.

In Bradford County, we remember Sergeant David Lashon Goodson who died from complications of COVID-19 on August 18, 2020. He was 48 years old and had served with the Bradford County Sheriff's Office for 22 years. He is survived by his wife, his daughter, his son, his mother, and his brother.

In Marion County, we remember Deputy Sheriff Craig Heeder Riley II who died from complications of COVID-19 on December 16, 2020. He was 53 and had served with the Marion County Sheriff's Office for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, his two daughters, his son-in-law, his grandson, his parents, and his sister.

Finally, just this year, we lost Deputy Nick Tilliman. He was 30 years old and had served our Nation in both the Army and the Navy. He was a friend to all and known as a goofball who could keep a smile on your face. Tragically, the smile that he so frequently donned couldn't hide the pain that he felt, and on February 15 of this year, he took his own life.

It is not popular nor is it very easy to talk about the mental strain on our first responders, but it must be said both here on the floor of the United States House of Representatives and in the departments around this country that mental health matters.

Our men and women in blue and green are responding to the most violent, disturbing, and tragic scenes that not only stay with them for the rest of their lives but force them to compartmentalize their work for the rest of their time on the force and beyond.

No man or woman should have to bear that burden alone or in silence. It is well past time we prioritize mental health training and treatment for our LEOs and all of our first responders.

Again, I am proud not just as a wife to a SWAT medic but as a Representative of some of Florida's finest.

We are here to honor those who have served our communities with distinction as well as those who continue to do so. Today, Mr. Speaker, you will hear the stories of many who have served.

I am especially honored to lead this Special Order along with my good friend, Sheriff John Rutherford, and giving thanks for recognizing their service. These are just some of the names of the fallen heroes from our districts. There are many more who have given their lives in other counties and cities across our State and Nation.

Each one of them has a story to tell. Each one of them has a family to mourn. Each one of them has a legacy it is our duty to honor. We owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never repay, but we can do our best to support their families and colleagues who are left behind. We can do our best to ensure that they have the resources and equipment they need to do their job safely and effectively. We can do our best and will do our best to respect and appreciate their work and sacrifice.

We can and we will stand up for our men and women in uniform in the face of attacks from those who wish to vilify our hard working LEOs.

As we mark National Police Week 2023 and welcome the thousands of law enforcement officers to our Nation's Capital--their Nation's Capital-- for days of ceremonies, tributes, and important conversations, let us remember and honor the fallen heroes of law enforcement. Let us pray for their families and friends who miss them dearly and let us thank our brothers and sisters in blue and green who carry on the mission today.

We will never forget that they gave their lives for us, and we will never forget their names--all 246 who were lost in the line of duty last year.
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Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the great State of Texas for his unwavering support for our men and women in blue and green.

Go Gators; I had to throw that in there.

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Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from the great State of Georgia for his comments.

I now yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards).

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Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague for helping name the first 120 of those that we lost in the line of duty last year.

At this time, I would like to continue reading the list of names:

Officer Trainee Cody Alan Olafson, Lieutenant Mark Allen Pike, Supervising Fire Marshal John Joseph ``Jack'' McCauley, Police Officer Houston Ryan Tipping, Deportation Officer Brian Wayne Turner, Special Agent Peter Christopher Egan, Officer Adrian Lopez Sr., Deputy Sheriff Thomas E. Baker III, Police Officer Christopher Nicholas Fariello, Senior Investigator Kyle Lee Patterson, Officer Kennis Winston Croom, Detective Justin Michael Terry, Deputy First Class Glenn R. Hilliard, Sergeant Michael Domingo Paredes, Officer Joseph Anthony Santana, Sergeant Sean Free, Deputy Sheriff Austin W. ``Melvin'' Richardson, Deputy Sheriff J'Mar Colin Abel, Deputy Sheriff Austin Derek Aldridge, Detention Officer Jeremiah James Story, Deputy Sheriff Jeff L. Hermanson, Sergeant Richard Lopez, Reserve Officer Jeffrey Michael David Richardson, Deputy Sheriff Bradley Steven Henry Johnson, Captain Ralph Harlow Frasure, Deputy Sheriff William Edward Petry, Police Officer Jacob Russell Chaffins, Sergeant John K. Williams, Police Officer Loren Michael Courts, Parole Supervisor Ronald D. Spangler Jr., Officer Brian D. Olliff, Undersheriff Lawrence George Koren, Lieutenant Fred Douglas Beers III, Deputy Sheriff Michael Adam Levison, Patrolman Vincent Anthony Parks, Police Officer Frederick G. Maley, Police Officer Daniel Francisco Vasquez, Sergeant Christopher James Nelson, Police Officer Anthony Patrick Mazurkiewicz, Supervisory Deportation Officer Rachel Elizabeth Vielmas, Deputy Sheriff Matthew Eugene Yates, Sergeant Jean-Harold Louis Astree, Mounted Deputy Nichole Shuff-Balint, Deputy Sheriff Lorenzo Bustos, Deputy Sheriff II Jamie Lynn Reynolds, Police Officer Noah Jacob Shahnavaz, Deputy Sheriff Dallas Ryan Edeburn, Sergeant Matthew Ryan Fishman, Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan, Conservation Officer Lawrence E. Cabana, Deputy Sheriff Andrew Peery, Corporal Chad M. Beattie, Deputy Sheriff Ned P. Byrd, Police Officer Cesar Echaverry, Captain William Riley Hargraves, Special Agent Jose Antonio Perez, Police Officer Ivan Mauricio Lopez, Sergeant Robert Blaine Swartz, Sergeant F. Brent Chomyszak, Sergeant Harold Lee Russell II, Detective Matthew Walker Blansett, Constable Deborah Martinez- Garibay, Correctional Officer III Kaitlyn Breanne Ritnour, Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Randall Koleski, Deputy Sheriff Marshall Samuel Ervin Jr., Trooper Cadet Patrick Donelle Dupree, Police Officer Dillon Micheal Vakoff, Captain Janelle Sanders, Police Officer Lloyd ``Mike'' Todd, Police Officer Seara Burton, Deputy Sheriff Michael Hartwick, Senior Patrol Officer Anthony Martin, Master Police Officer Tyrell Owens-Riley, Detention Corporal Gregory Thomas Horne Sr., Sergeant Meagan Burke, Major Terry Randall Arnold, Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane, Deputy Sheriff Sidnee Carter, Investigator Myiesha Breanna Stewart, Lieutenant Dustin Demonte, Sergeant Alex Hamzy, Police Officer Truong Thai, Police Officer Steven R. Nothem II, Officer Jorge Arias, Sergeant Ivan M. Morales, Police Officer Logan K. Medlock, Sergeant Daniel Alan Kammerzell, Lieutenant Kristina Zell, Criminal Investigator Steven A. Carnes, Police Officer Brandon Tsai, Marine Interdiction Agent Michel O. Maceda, Police Officer Jordan Jackson, Deputy Sheriff Christopher Taylor, Detective Sergeant Frank Gualdino, Deputy Sheriff Jose Angel DeLeon, Border Patrol Agent Raul Humberto Gonzalez Jr., Reserve Deputy Brad Miller, Court Services Officer Curtis Matthew Worland, Senior Corrections Officer Scott Ozburn Riner, Police Officer Branden Paul Estorffe, Sergeant Steven Robin, Sergeant Donald Scoby, Deputy Sheriff Daniel J. Kin, Deputy Sheriff Oscar Yovani Bolanos-Anavisca Jr., Chief of Police Joe Carey, Detective Paul Daniel Newell, Deputy Sheriff Corey D. McElroy, Corporal Ray Charles Hamilton, Deputy Sheriff Isaiah Cordero.

K9 Beni, K9 Jedi, K9 Nitro II, K9 Maya, K9 Ciro, K9 Dash, K9 Major, K9 Jinx, K9 Mina, K9 Bluz, K9 Drago, K9 Exo, K9 Odin, K9 Cannon, K9 Drago, K9 Frankie, K9 Max, K9 Blue, K9 Hannes, K9 Axel, K9 Lux, K9 Rocket, K9 Figo, K9 Pepper, K9 Jack.

Mr. Speaker, that is 246 officers that gave their lives in the line of duty.

I thank my colleagues for joining me for tonight's Special Order. You know, it is pretty hard to read those names.

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