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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING SHERIFF THOMAS (TOM) ALLMAN
______
HON. JARED HUFFMAN
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, February 3, 2020
Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleague Representative
Mike Thompson to recognize Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman on the
occasion of his retirement from a long and distinguished career in law
enforcement. Thirty-four years of Sheriff Allman's career were spent
with Mendocino County Sheriff's Department, where he provided the
County with steadfast and effective leadership through major disasters
and emergencies, while simultaneously working tirelessly to make
Mendocino County a leader in mental health reform.
Born in Sylva, North Carolina, Sheriff Allman grew up between
Northern California and North Carolina. After graduating from high
school in 1979, he pursued a career in firefighting with the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in San Bernardino County. He
returned to Northern California and attended California State
University, Chico and the Fire Academy at Butte College. He soon
transitioned into a law enforcement career with the Fairfield Police
Department in 1982, and joined the Mendocino County Sheriff's
Department three years later in 1985.
After his promotion to Lieutenant in 1988, Sheriff Allman made the
difficult decision to temporarily volunteer with the United States
Department of State as a civilian peacekeeper following the Kosovo War.
He served for 12 months as a police presence in 1999, an experience
which he has credited with influencing much of his later career, and
which began a long history of volunteerism that continued throughout
his professional life. He volunteered to support law enforcement
efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and traveled with his
local Rotary Club to Southern India in the wake of the 2004 tsunami to
build an orphanage.
Sheriff Allman was first elected to the office of Mendocino County
Sheriff in 2006, and he served continuously until his retirement in
December 2019. Sheriff Allman's 13 years of service in that role have
provided continuity and stability for the County through major
disasters including the catastrophic wildfires in 2017 and 2018 as well
as numerous other challenges faced by the County of Mendocino. He has
been a tireless advocate for making broad structural improvements to
mental health resources, while prioritizing the difficult work of
investigating serious crimes.
Sheriff Allman's legacy and achievements will continue to be felt in
Mendocino County through numerous anti-recidivism programs he
spearheaded at the County Jail, including a baking program, resume
writing course, and a robust General Education Diploma (GED) program.
One of his most significant achievements was the passage of a funding
measure for the Mental Health Treatment Act, which has raised roughly
$10 million to date. Sheriff Allman will continue to serve on the
Measure B Committee as the Sheriff's Designee.
Madam Speaker, Sheriff Tom Allman has shown throughout his long and
distinguished career his dedication to public service and the people of
Mendocino County. He has drawn from his personal and professional
experiences to apply empathy and problem solving for the betterment of
the many individuals and groups he has served over the course of his
professional and volunteer life. His commitment to the issues that
matter most to his community, and his ability to deliver results, are
testaments to his skill and his dedication to law enforcement and
public service. I hope you will join us and the community, his family,
and many friends in celebrating Sheriff Allman's many accomplishments
and in wishing him success and good fortune in his future endeavors.
____________________