Back the Blue: National Police Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. SELF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor law enforcement during this upcoming National Police Week.

In 1962, as my colleague from North Carolina suggested, President John F. Kennedy formally proclaimed the recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day beginning in May of 1963. Kennedy acknowledged that ``from the beginning of this Nation, law enforcement officers have played an important role.''

In 1821, Stephen F. Austin, known as the father of Texas, established a group of roughly 50 men to provide for the safety of the first Texas settlements. He recognized this group as The Rangers in 1823, for their duties compelled them to range over the entire countryside, thus giving rise to the service known today as the Texas Rangers.

Today I pay special homage to the first responders who ran to the gunfire when shots rang out last Saturday, just 4 days ago, at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas.

The first responders include: the Allen Police Department, the Plano Police Department, the McKinney Police Department, the Frisco Police Department, the Prosper Police Department, the Wylie Police Department, the Fairview Police Department, the Collin County Sheriff's Office, the Collin County Constable Precinct 1, the Collin County Constable Precinct 3, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol, and the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers.

I offer special recognition to the Allen police officer who, by the grace of God, was on the scene when the first shot was fired and responded swiftly.

He is a hero among a cast of heroes who continue piecing together the details of this horrible occurrence. That Allen police officer's actions epitomize the words of the legendary Texas Ranger, Captain W.J. McDonald, who said: ``No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that is in the right and keeps on a-comin'.''

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