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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK 2020
______
HON. JAMIE RASKIN
of maryland
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in solemn recognition of the
selfless sacrifice made by law enforcement officers across this great
nation and to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty. Ever
since President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May
15th as Peace Officer's Memorial Day, we as a nation have paused to
show our support and eternal gratitude for the brave men and women who
have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting their
fellow citizens.
I embrace this opportunity to pay tribute to our fallen law
enforcement officers. These are true and brave public servants who made
the conscious decision to stand in between the men, women, and children
in their communities and those who would do them harm. While these
courageous individuals hail from a broad spectrum of social and
economic backgrounds, they all share the common instinct to protect and
serve their fellow citizens. These officers are husbands and wives,
fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They understand the perils
they face every day when they go to work in service of others, but they
are defined by a rare sense of duty and a love for their fellow human
beings. They keep our roads and highways safe. They safeguard our
property. They secure the event sites and venues where we gather. They
respond to incidents of domestic violence and calls for help. They
bring criminals to justice. They are the ones who are moving toward the
sound of the gunfire when everyone else is running away.
Law enforcement officers engage in thousands of face-to-face
encounters throughout their careers. They do so in most cases without
knowing, even in the midst of the encounter, if the individual or
individuals they are confronting are in need of their help or intend to
harm them. Too often, these encounters end tragically. 128 officers
died in the line of duty in 2019. Including officers identified from
previous years, 307 names will be added to the National Law Enforcement
Officer Memorial here in Washington, D.C. this year. Eight of those
names are from my home state of Maryland.
Officer Kyle David Olinger was a husband, a father, and a Police
Officer in the Montgomery County Police Department. On August 8th,
2003, while serving the citizens of my home district, he initiated a
traffic stop in Silver Spring, MD on a vehicle with three passengers.
Officer Olinger observed one of the occupants attempting to conceal a
handgun under the seat, and he ordered the man to drop the weapon. A
struggle ensued, and Officer Olinger was shot in the neck and paralyzed
below the chest. Despite his wounds, Officer Olinger, a former U.S.
Marine, continued to serve his department until his injuries forced him
to retire in 2007, demonstrating the type of man he was and his
commitment to the service of others. On April 18th, 2019, Officer
Olinger succumbed to complications from the gunshot wound he suffered
in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Beyond recognizing the bravery and sacrifice of law enforcement
professionals like Officer Olinger, we must acknowledge the sacrifices
made by their loved ones. Every day our officers leave for work, their
families must live with the anxiety of knowing that they may not return
home. The burden of the profession is not just borne by officers
themselves. Their family members endure these circumstances for the
benefit of others--in exchange for all the pain and suffering that is
prevented by the actions of these dedicated officers. So, today we
salute not only the fallen officers, but the loving families that
supported them in their very challenging profession.
Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring all the courageous
men and women who have taken the oath to protect and serve, and who
have fallen in the line of duty. We are forever grateful for their
sacrifice, and they will not be forgotten.
____________________
