September 26, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 156 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H7995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING OFFICER JUAN JOSE DIAZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Gomez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOMEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Juan Jose 
Diaz, a valuable member of the East Los Angeles community and a 
lifelong resident of California's 34th Congressional District. He was 
taken from us far too early this July at the age of 24.
  He was full of potential and an inspiration to the people around him. 
His sense of duty extended beyond his uniform, being deeply engrained 
in him from a young age.
  Growing up in Cypress Park, he had a profound understanding of his 
community and the problems they faced. He wanted to be a police officer 
since he was in preschool, the kind that young men of color, like 
himself, could reach out to for help, someone they could trust.
  Officer Diaz put his life on the line to better his community and 
protect those who call it home.
  One night, as he was at a taco stand in Lincoln Heights with his 
girlfriend and her brothers, he saw a man tagging gang graffiti on a 
wall nearby. Officer Diaz took his duty to serve and protect seriously, 
so even though he was not on the clock at that particular moment, he 
confronted the man and told him to stop.
  Ultimately, this man who was doing the tagging left and returned and 
shot at Officer Diaz and his friends. Even in his last moments, this 
young hero, this officer, looked out for the people around him, helping 
his friends and others escape the gunfire. But Officer Diaz was shot 
and killed. You don't see that kind of commitment and courage every 
single day.
  I mourn the passing of Officer Juan Jose Diaz with his family, his 
community, and his colleagues on the force. His legacy will live on 
with those who were lucky enough to have known him and with all the 
people who he inspired by his bravery and dedication to the people of 
East Los Angeles.

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