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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SERGEANT H.A. ``BUCK'' WENZEL TRIBUTE
______
HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Buck
Wenzel of Custer County, Colorado for his valuable service as a law
enforcement officer and community leader for over 40 years and to wish
him well in his retirement.
As a young adult, Buck served as a law enforcement officer with the
Security Forces of the U.S. Air Force. Since 1977, Buck has served the
Third Congressional District in various capacities as a community
leader and law enforcement official at the Pueblo County Sheriff's
Office and the Custer County Sheriff's Office. Buck graduated from the
Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy in November 1978 and shortly
thereafter served in a Patrol Division as a Patrol Deputy.
He was transferred in 1981 to the Investigations Division, where as a
Detective he specialized in violent crimes. A few years later, he was
tasked with creating a Field Training and Evaluation Program for all
new recruit patrol deputies. Later, Buck served as an Instructor at the
Law Enforcement Academy and as a supervisor for SWAT. Because of his
exemplary service, he was promoted in 1988 and sent to the Northwestern
School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University in
Chicago. He received the Kremling Honorable Mention upon graduation.
In 2001, Buck was tasked with absorbing Colorado State University's
Police Department and establishing a contractual Sheriff's Office
Policing Division for the university. During his last 10 years of
service at the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, he served as the Senior
Operations Commander for the Operations Bureau partaking in duties such
as daily and long-term planning of the Bureau and Divisions which
included Field Training, SWAT, and 9-1-1. Several years later in 2007,
Buck retired from the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.
For his service, Buck has received innumerable awards and
commendations including honorable mentions, sheriff commendations, and
team commendations. Additionally, he received the 2005 National
Alliance on Mental Illness Heroes in the Fight Award, 2005 Pueblo
County Uniformed Officer of the Year Award, and 2014 Custer County
Sheriff's Office Officer of the Year Award. Now retired from law
enforcement, Buck continues his work as Mayor of Silver Cliff and as a
Chairperson of the Custer County 9-1-1 Authority Board.
Madam Speaker, Buck has dutifully served his country and community
for almost his entire life. He has more than earned his retirement. I
wish him the best of luck in this next stage of life and look forward
to seeing his future contributions to the community.
____________________