[Pages H2092-H2096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

  (Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Evans 
of Colorado was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the 
majority leader.)


                             General Leave

  Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special 
Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Fedorchak). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), a fellow former law enforcement officer, who

[[Page H2093]]

served in the Duluth Police Department.
  Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Evans for 
yielding.
  Madam Speaker, this National Police Week is a somber one for 
Minnesotans, as we have lost three brave officers in the line of duty: 
Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and Jamal Mitchell. I would also be 
remiss if I did not acknowledge Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth.
  In February 2024, Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge were attempting to 
negotiate with a convicted felon who had taken several family members 
hostage, including seven children. After 3\1/2\ hours of negotiations, 
the subject opened fire on the officers. Firefighter/Paramedic Adam 
Finseth was fired on while trying to help the wounded officers to an 
armored vehicle.
  On February 18, 2024, Officers Elmstrand and Ruge and Firefighter/
Paramedic Finseth did not return home to their families.
  In May 2024, officers responded to shots fired in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota. When the officers arrived, a gunfight ensued. Officer Jamal 
Mitchell stopped to help what he thought was a wounded victim on the 
ground. The subject opened multiple rounds and fired upon Officer 
Mitchell.
  On May 30, 2024, Officer Jamal Mitchell did not return home to his 
family.
  I visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial yesterday 
morning. I saw the names of these men etched into the walls alongside 
their brothers and sisters who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice.
  I saw the pictures and the notes left behind by loved ones. I saw the 
Minneapolis Police patch accompanied by two beers, a silent farewell 
from a colleague who never got that last drink with their friend.
  Every year, we have to put more names on that wall, and every year, 
it is just as heartbreaking as the last. We have to do better by the 
men and women who serve our communities. We have to support them in 
their actions, our policies, and our rhetoric. We need to care for 
their families as if they were our own.
  I thank those who put on the law enforcement uniform every day, who 
kiss their families good-bye not knowing if they will come home. It is 
because of them that our communities and loved ones are safe.
  To my fellow law enforcement officers across this great Nation, in 
big and small communities, although my time in uniform may be over, my 
watch will never end. Please know that I will use my time in office to 
serve you and your families always.

                              {time}  1830

  Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those 
words. It is truly meaningful.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Ellzey).


                 Honoring Captain Bruce ``Puppy'' Fecht

  Mr. ELLZEY. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Colorado (Mr. 
Evans) and my friend from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), both police 
officers. Of course, the gentleman from Colorado was a fellow 
helicopter pilot, unrestricted aviator, and I thank the gentleman for 
the time that he has given me today.
  Madam Speaker, today I honor a friend of mine and a true American 
patriot, Commander Bruce ``Puppy'' Fecht, born November 16, 1955, 
passed away March 16, 2025.
  Captain Bruce William Fecht, U.S. Navy, retired, a true American 
hero, passed away on March 16, 2025, at the age of 69. He was born in 
Missoula, Montana, to Robert William Fecht and Marjorie June Fehr. When 
he was a young boy, the family along with older sister Bobbi moved to 
Spokane, Washington, where the family grew to include his two younger 
sisters, Rebecca and Brenda.
  Bruce went to Mead High School, where he was a standout basketball 
player. He continued his education and basketball prowess at Spokane 
Community College, eventually completing his electrical engineering 
degree at UW.
  His first job at AT&T offered the comfort of a 9-to-5 routine, but it 
was the thrill of flight that ultimately called to him.
  Bruce pursued his dream of becoming a naval aviator, applying to and 
being accepted into Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, 
Florida. He was commissioned in 1982, and 1 year later in April 1983, 
he received his wings of gold in Beeville, Texas, marking the beginning 
of a distinguished career in the skies.
  For the next decade, Bruce, call sign Puppy--we will talk about that 
in a bit--served with distinction in various squadrons, including the 
VF-124 Gunslingers, VF-111 Sundowners, VF-126 Bandits, and VF-1 
Wolfpack, flying the iconic F-14A and F-14D Tomcat along with the T-2C, 
A4-E, and F-16N.
  He completed multiple deployments aboard aircraft carriers like the 
USS Carl Vinson, USS Ranger, and USS Enterprise.
  He also graduated from Fighter Weapons School, Top Gun, Adversary 
Course and earned a master of science degree in systems management from 
the University of Southern California.
  Bruce was selected as an extra for the movie ``Top Gun,'' and he can 
be seen a couple of times, which was filmed on sight in Miramar. He can 
be seen in the infamous ``Top Gun'' group photo used in the movie.
  Bruce's career was defined not only by his technical skills and 
unmatched piloting abilities but also by his leadership. After 14 years 
in the cockpit, he transitioned to staff roles, including serving as 
the Pol-Mil officer at U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. 
There, he played a key role in operations in the Middle East, focusing 
on Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.
  Bruce returned to the cockpit in 1999, joining the VF-14 Tophatters 
as executive officer and, later, commanding officer.
  Bruce was a man of faith and in the last 2 years of his life, he 
earned a master's degree in Catholic theology from Franciscan 
University of Steubenville. He planned to retire from General Atomics 
and serve as a chaplain. He attended Saint Ann Catholic Church in 
Ridgecrest, California, and enjoyed serving meals and singing in the 
choir.
  Bruce will be forever remembered for his great sense of humor and his 
generous heart. He was a faithful son, wonderful brother, and a fun 
uncle to his nephews and nieces. His personal relationship with Jesus 
Christ took him through his last difficult journey with the strength 
and confidence that he can trust his Lord with the outcome of his life.
  We will miss him dearly but look forward to the day we will be 
reunited in Heaven. Bruce is survived by his sisters, Bobbi, Rebecca, 
and Brenda; numerous nieces and nephews; cousins; aunts; friends; and 
the countless men and women who were fortunate to serve alongside him. 
He leaves behind a legacy of courage, integrity, and commitment to 
excellence that will continue to inspire for generations to come.
  May he rest in peace.


             Honoring Detention Officer Isaiah Patrick Bias

  Mr. ELLZEY. Madam Speaker, it is Police Week. In honor of Police 
Week, I will recognize two remarkable individuals whose bravery and 
dedication serve as examples of heroism in our communities.
  First, I honor the life and service of Detention Officer Isaiah 
Patrick Bias of Ellis County Sheriff's Office. Last December, Officer 
Bias made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his community at the 
Ellis County Jail.
  He began his journey with the sheriff's office as a teenager in the 
Explorer Program, growing into a respected officer known for his 
kindness and professionalism.
  I had the honor of attending Officer Bias' funeral, where family, 
friends, and fellow officers gathered to remember a man who served with 
dignity and heart.
  Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman spoke of Isaiah's unwavering 
dedication and the impact he made on everyone who knew him.
  His passing is a powerful reminder during this Police Week of the 
dangers faced by our law enforcement officers each and every day. His 
memory serves as a beacon of service and courage to us all.


                  In Recognition of Mollie McCalister

  Mr. ELLZEY. Madam Speaker, I next recognize Mollie McCalister.
  Mollie is a dispatcher from Cherokee County, whose quick thinking and 
intuition saved a life.
  Most days, Mollie takes calls about all kinds of things: lost pets, 
traffic accidents, and folks just needing a little

[[Page H2094]]

help. Yet, one day, she picked up the phone, and it was different.
  A woman called asking about her child's eye prescription. That might 
sound like an odd call for 911, but Mollie picked up on something: a 
hesitation, a tone in her voice.
  She knew something wasn't right. She sensed fear and desperation from 
the other side of the phone. Rather than brushing it off, Mollie 
followed her instincts. She coordinated with deputies in the area and 
sent them to the caller's location.
  Thank God she did because that woman was being held at gunpoint. 
Madam Speaker, because of her actions, the suspect was arrested, and 
that caller is still with us today.
  That is real heroism. It is not the kind you read about in big 
headlines but the kind that happens every single day in our communities 
because people like Mollie are paying attention. She listened. She 
cared and because of that, a life was saved. Mollie reminds us that 
sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply listen and act.
  Today, I was privileged to recognize these two heroes, but I am not 
the only one you have heard from today, and these are not the only two 
people in my district who deserve recognition.
  Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those 
incredibly moving tributes and for the words, the memories, and the 
recognition.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the 23rd District of 
California (Mr. Obernolte), a fellow member of the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce.


       Tribute to Officer Seth Franklin and Officer Shaun Jarvis

  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives and the 
legacies of two remarkable law enforcement officers from California's 
Inland Empire: Officer Seth Franklin of the Redlands Police Department, 
and Officer Shaun Jarvis of the San Bernardino Police Department.
  These two men dedicated their lives to serving and protecting others 
not just as officers but as fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers. 
Their commitment to their communities was matched only by their love 
for their families.
  Officer Seth Franklin passed away on April 6, 2025, after a long and 
courageous battle with cancer. He was just 34. He is survived by his 
wife, two young children, his parents, and three siblings. Seth was 
known for his leadership, compassion, and quiet strength; qualities 
that define not just his work, but every part of his life.
  Officer Shaun Jarvis tragically lost his life on May 1, 2014, in a 
motorcycle accident. He was only 30. Shaun left behind his wife, 
Rachel; their two young children, Griffin and Aislynn; and his 
stepdaughter, Aubrey, who he proudly raised as his own.
  He was a deeply devoted family man who made time for the moments that 
mattered, whether it was coaching Little League or walking his daughter 
to her first day of school year after year after year.
  This year, Officer Jarvis' name was added to the National Law 
Enforcement Officers Memorial here in Washington, D.C. His service and 
sacrifice are now forever enshrined among the heroes who gave their 
lives in the line of duty or while still devoted to their uniform.
  Madam Speaker, these men lived with purpose and served with honor. 
Their legacies endure in the lives that they touched, the families that 
they loved, and the communities that they helped keep safe. We owe them 
and their families a debt that we can never fully repay.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in offering our deepest condolences 
and sincerest gratitude to these two men.
  Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Baird), himself a veteran of our United States military.


             In Memory of Fred Fislar and Brandon Schreiber

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for 
yielding to me.
  Madam Speaker, every single day, our brave men and women in blue 
leave their families not knowing if they will return home.
  During National Police Week, we pause to show our gratitude for our 
law enforcement officers and recognize the sacrifices that they make 
every single day to keep our communities safe.
  Today, I particularly recognize Fred Fislar from the Hendricks County 
Sheriff's Office and Brandon Schreiber from the Newton County Sheriff's 
Office, two constituents of mine who tragically lost their lives in the 
line of duty in 2024.
  Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.
  To the law enforcement officers across the State of Indiana, I thank 
them for their unwavering courage, dedication, and service to our 
communities.
  I also thank the families of our law enforcement officers. Their 
strength, resilience, and sacrifices should also be honored and 
appreciated.
  Let this week serve as a reminder that we should always back the 
blue.


            Additional Recognitions for National Police Week

  Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today during National 
Police Week in strong support of the law enforcement community and the 
men and women I served with in my former career as a police officer as 
we all worked together to protect our communities.
  Police service runs deep in my blood. In fact, both of my 
grandfathers were proud veterans. One of them, my abuelito Cuauhtemoc 
Chavez, earned his citizenship in World War II along with two Purple 
Hearts.
  My other grandfather, Gregory Evans, was a career naval aviator. He 
believed that service to this country wasn't just an obligation; it was 
a privilege. That belief has shaped who I am today.
  From a young age, I was taught that truly loving this country means 
being willing to serve, to protect, and to sacrifice for it. That 
lesson has stayed with me and led me to serve 12 years in the U.S. Army 
and the Colorado Army National Guard, and later to my 10 years of 
service with the Arvada Police Department.

  Wearing the uniform teaches you so much about leadership, resilience, 
and responsibility. It gives a deeper understanding and respect for the 
men and women who put themselves in harm's way for others. These are 
the people who don't just talk about courage and service; they live it.
  During my first term here in Congress, I have made it a priority to 
defend and honor our law enforcement officers, especially those who 
have given everything in the line of duty.
  The very first bill I introduced as a Member of this House was about 
defending and uplifting our State and local law enforcement, the UPLIFT 
Act.
  This bill is about empowering law enforcement officers to do their 
jobs and keep our communities safe by extending hold harmless 
protections to officers who work with Federal law enforcement to remove 
people who are illegally present in our communities and who are 
committing other crimes.
  In fact, I found out just today that a friend of mine had lost a 
daughter, Kaitlyn Weaver, to an illegal immigrant who was driving over 
90 miles an hour in a 45-mile-an-hour zone and created a fatal traffic 
accident.
  Unfortunately, the State that I represent, Colorado, continues to 
prioritize the protection of illegal immigrants who commit crimes over 
the safety of innocent American citizens like Kaitlyn.
  While Colorado has been a sanctuary State for nearly 6 years, the 
State legislature continues to handcuff police officers from 
cooperating with their Federal law enforcement counterparts. Colorado 
also severely restricts local police officers from being able to even 
safely and orderly transfer a criminal to Federal custody, which 
jeopardizes officer safety and results in our police officers being 
assaulted.
  My bill, the UPLIFT Act, would help fix this problem. As a former 
cop, I will never stop advocating for the protection and well-being of 
law enforcement.
  While my first bill focused on defending law enforcement, my most 
recent one focuses on honoring law enforcement. As someone who has worn 
the badge, I know firsthand the sacrifice and commitment that the job 
requires.
  Law enforcement isn't just a profession. It is a calling. It takes a 
special kind of person to wake up every day knowing the risks, knowing 
the dangers, and knowing that that might be their last day, and they 
still put on the uniform and go to work

[[Page H2095]]

  John 15:13 talks about the greatest love that someone has as being 
willing to lay down their life for their friends. Police officers 
across our country embody that kind of love every single day when they 
go out and protect our communities.
  When I think about this fundamental principle of law enforcement, I 
think about officers from my district. I think about folks like Weld 
County Sheriff's Deputy Sam Brownlee.
  A devoted husband, father, and stepfather, Deputy Brownlee was 
tragically shot and killed in the line of duty in 2010 during a 
struggle with a gang member. He served with distinction for 5 years 
with the Weld County Sheriff's Department and was always committed to 
protecting his community.
  Deputy Brownlee's story is one that should never be forgotten. His 
sacrifice is a solemn reminder of the risks that our law enforcement 
officers face every day and the courage it takes to wear the badge. 
That is why I am proud to announce that, this week, during National 
Police Week, I introduced a bill to rename the Evans Post Office in 
Weld County after Deputy Brownlee to ensure that the community that he 
loved is able to properly honor and remember his courage, his service, 
and his enduring legacy.

                              {time}  1845

  In a time when law enforcement officers across this country face 
growing threats and far too little appreciation, we must do more to 
recognize their bravery, their sacrifice, and their families.
  This bill is a tribute not just to Deputy Brownlee, but to every 
officer who has laid down their life in defense of their community and 
the families that they left behind.
  I look forward to continuing to build support for this bill with the 
Colorado delegation and working to get it signed into law.
  Part of my passion in doing this comes from one of these specific 
assignments that I had when I was a police officer. I served in a 
variety of capacities, but one of the most meaningful was serving as a 
member of, a sergeant of, and the lieutenant for our Honor Guard.
  The Honor Guard is the agency within a police department that is 
responsible for conducting a variety of ceremonies. They do the flag 
postings at civic events, but one of the most sacred responsibilities 
that they have is honoring the fallen officers who gave their lives in 
the line of duty.
  I served in that role for several years with my agency and, 
unfortunately, I have buried more officers than I can remember starting 
with Heath Gumm of the Adams County Sheriff's Department and ending 
with Eric Talley from the Boulder Police Department.
  There are two officers that I had to bury that I will specifically 
mention. The first was my friend and coworker for almost 10 years, 
Officer Gordon Beesley of the Arvada Police Department.
  Gordon was a school resource officer. He was one of the nicest people 
that you would ever meet. In fact, before his ambush and murder, he 
actually was making the news because of his work as a school resource 
officer who took the time to personally ride his bike to school with a 
kid who was having some trouble at that school.
  Officer Beesley truly embodied what it meant to serve your community, 
to protect your community, and to work alongside your community to make 
sure that everyone gets the best possible outcome that they possibly 
can. He had a life motto and his life motto was: Find the good. Find 
the good in every person and in every situation.
  Even though he was a police officer and had to sometimes do things 
like put handcuffs on people and hold others accountable, Gordon 
Beesley lived by those words every single day. He was a pillar in the 
community who truly worked to find the good in every situation.
  Another officer from my agency was Officer Dillon Vakoff. Dillon was 
actually an Air Force veteran. He served for several years in the 
United States Air Force before he became a police officer. Dillon was 
actually an officer on one of the units that I commanded. He was one of 
my mobile field force officers. I remember training him to be able to 
go out and do the requirements of that special assignment.
  Dillon was, unfortunately, shot and killed on September 11, 2022, 
while he was responding to an altercation that turned deadly.
  Dillon also had a motto that he lived by. I can't say it on the floor 
of this House, but the acronym for it is NFQ. It means never quit.
  Dillon was somebody who never quit. He never quit in his commitment 
to his country. He never quit in his commitment to his State. And 
Dillon never quit even when he was called upon to make the ultimate 
sacrifice and lay down his life in defense of his community.
  In many ways Dillon embodies what it means to be a police officer. 
Having served for 12 years in the Army and another 10 years in law 
enforcement, I often compare military and law enforcement service to 
being two sides of the same coin or to use police terminology, two 
sides of the same perimeter.
  In law enforcement, whenever we have a dangerous situation, we have 
to contain that situation to keep the public safe, so we set up what is 
called an inner perimeter. We also want to make sure that the rest of 
the community does not go into that perimeter.
  While you have an inner perimeter of officers who are containing the 
situation and who are focused inward, you have an outer perimeter of 
officers who are making sure that the innocents stay away from a 
potentially hazardous situation or area.
  That is how I see the military and law enforcement. Law enforcement 
is the inner perimeter. They protect us in our homes, in our 
communities, in our schools, in our parks, and on our roadways. The 
military protects us from external threats, but they are two sides of 
the same coin.
  When folks like Dillon or Gordon or Heath Gumm or Eric Talley or so 
many others are called upon to make that sacrifice, they are making 
that sacrifice from the exact same motivations as the broader community 
of military and law enforcement and first responders who are out to 
make sure that we stay safe.
  At a law enforcement funeral, which, again, I have unfortunately been 
to too many of, we honor those sacrifices, and we make two solemn 
promises. The first promise is to never forget. We honor that promise 
by doing things like what we are doing tonight. We honor that promise 
through memorials and through speeches and through memories, through 
carrying the actual lives and stories of those who have made the 
ultimate sacrifice. Dillon and Gordon are no longer with us, but as 
long as we talk about them, as long as we talk about how they lived 
their lives, as long as we carry on their mottos, never quit, find the 
good, in a small way they are still with us and their memories, their 
examples, their courage, their commitment, and their service lives on 
through them as long as we never forget.
  There is a second promise that we make at law enforcement funerals. 
We have the watch from here. Law enforcement is like the thin blue 
line, individuals may come and go, but the thin blue line itself never 
sleeps, never grows tired. It doesn't fail. It cannot fail. The thin 
blue line is what keeps our communities, our country, and our way of 
life safe from the threats and the harms and the chaos that would exist 
if just for a single day police officers didn't put on the badge and 
the uniform and go to work. Individual officers come and go, but the 
thin blue line never does.

  We make a promise to the fallen who gave the ultimate sacrifice. They 
are no longer able to continue in that watch. We do a final radio call, 
but then we make a promise. We have the watch from here. For everyone 
within the sound of my voice--for the police officers, for the 
citizens, for everyone else, that is the action item, that is the 
takeaway from this speech. We have the watch from here.
  For the police officers, for the first responders, for the families 
who serve right alongside their loved ones, know that we will not 
forget and that we will stand by you to the absolute utmost of our 
abilities because that is what having the watch from here means.
  It means that the sacred requirement to protect our communities will 
not end. It means that those of us, the living, and particularly the 
living who are in this great self-governed society that

[[Page H2096]]

we call the United States of America, it means that we have the 
responsibility to work with, to support, to empower, and to protect our 
law enforcement officers as they go out into the community and they put 
their lives and their families' future on the line to protect us.
  As someone who has made those sacred promises too many times at 
funerals, it is my honor to stand here today on the floor of the United 
States House of Representatives on May 15, police day in police week, 
to reaffirm and to challenge all of us to continue with those two 
sacred promises: never forget and then go out, be a good citizen, be a 
member of a community, support the law enforcement officers, and the 
men and women who themselves are physically every day putting on the 
badge and the uniform and who are keeping that watch from here.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________