May 14, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 91 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
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NATIONAL POLICE WEEK; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 91
(Senate - May 14, 2020)
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[Pages S2447-S2448] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] NATIONAL POLICE WEEK Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the bravery and dedication of our Nation's law enforcement personnel. Even under normal circumstances, police officers put their lives on the line every day to defend our communities; now, as our country struggles through an unprecedented public health crisis, policemen and women are taking on even more personal risk to keep Americans safe. They deserve our wholehearted gratitude and respect. I am proud to cosponsor Senator Feinstein and Senator Graham's resolution designating May 10 through May 16 as National Police Week and emphasizing our support for the law enforcement officers across the United States who work to preserve our safety and security. The resolution also pays respect to the many police officers who [[Page S2448]] tragically fell in the line of duty in the last year, including Officer Kyle David Olinger of the Montgomery County, MD, Police Department. Officer Olinger served with the Montgomery County Police Department for 2 years and had previously served with the Reading Police Department for 6 years. On April 18, 2019, Officer Olinger succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound he sustained on August 13, 2003, while making a traffic stop at the intersection of Second Avenue and Spring Street in Silver Spring. He observed one of the passengers in vehicle attempting to conceal a handgun underneath the seat. He ordered the man to drop the weapon before a struggle ensued. The man shot Officer Olinger in the neck, injuring his spinal column. The subject and the three other occupants drove away but were all apprehended a short time later. The man who shot him was convicted of attempted murder and subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Officer Olinger was paralyzed below his chest because of the shooting. He was married and had two sons. We will not forget his courage and the courage of his brothers and sisters on the force. Police officers around the country have devoted their lives to protecting us, and we must do everything within our power to protect them, too. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that means ensuring that all law enforcement officers have the equipment, training, and resources they need to stay safe while they continue their duties. Even though there is an extremely contagious and dangerous virus spreading all over the U.S., police forces cannot simply stop responding to crimes and emergencies. Policewomen and men, like healthcare providers and other essential workers, face a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus so that the rest of us can be safe and healthy. As of May 11, 2020, 101 officers have died from COVID-19. The least we can do is try to mitigate the risk that they face and save as many law enforcement lives as possible. There are concrete steps that we can and must take to safeguard our Nation's police officers during this epidemic. First and foremost, it is critical that we make the required personal protective equipment-- PPE--and testing universally available to the police. I have heard heartwarming stories about communities in Maryland donating PPE to their local police stations, but the bottom line is that public citizens should not need to take on that responsibility. The government should ensure that law enforcement agencies have the tools and equipment they need to perform their duties safely, especially during a period of increased risk like this one. I hope that we will significantly expand funding to State and local governments in upcoming coronavirus legislation so that they have the means to do so. Unfortunately, even with added protective measures, there will still be law enforcement officers who contract COVID-19 in the line of duty. We owe those brave men and women support to recover medically and financially from this disease. That means that we need to make workers compensation and comprehensive healthcare, both physical and mental, fully accessible to police officers and men whom COVID-19 has affected. We also need to recognize that serving as a police officer is much more dangerous now than it was 6 months ago, and it should be compensated accordingly; law enforcement officers deserve hazard pay for putting themselves in harm's way during this pandemic in order to keep our communities safe. Of course, we need to work not just during National Police Week and not just during this health crisis but year-round to show law enforcement officers our gratitude. We must do everything we can to protect them in the line of duty and care for them when their service causes them harm. I will continue fighting to support the heroes who bravely risk their own security to make this country a safer place for all of us. Mr. KING. Mr. President, each day, our peace officers prepare for work with no guarantee of what the next shift holds. They say goodbye to their loved ones and head out to serve and protect communities throughout Maine and across the country. And unfortunately, on some devastating days, they don't come home. These selfless citizens put themselves in dangerous positions day in and day out to ensure the safety of our people it is a commitment that evokes awe. They are heroes, walking among us, and when they make the ultimate sacrifice, it is on us to ensure that their names and deeds are not forgotten. So today, I rise to honor those who have made that sacrifice. This week, we mark National Police Week. This year's observance is, obviously, a bit different than usual. There will be no gathering peace officers from all over the country come to Washington, DC, to honor their fallen brothers and sisters; there will be no in-person candlelight vigil. But though the events are different, the goal is the same: to honor the memory of those who have given so much to protect our communities. This pandemic will not change our dedication to mourn their loss and honor their service, and this year, we will add 307 names of those who lost their lives in the line of duty to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, including two peace officers from my home State of Maine. I want to take this opportunity to share a little more about the legacies these peace officers leave behind. First: Detective Benjamin James Campbell of the Maine State Police died in the line of duty on April 3, 2019. Detective Campbell was helping a disabled vehicle in Hampden, ME, when he was struck by a vehicle tire. He was just 31 years old and leaves behind a wife and young son. He served the Maine State Police since 2012 and was promoted to detective in 2017. When asked to describe Detective Campbell, Maine State Police Col. John Cote put it simply and strongly, he said Detective Campbell was ``one of our very best.'' One of our very best--that tells you all you need to know about how his colleagues felt about him--an officer who stopped to help someone, a caring man, and a life taken much too soon. Second, the memorial will include the name of Perley Morrison Sprague, chief of the Rockport Police Department. Sadly, Chief Sprague suffered a major cardiac event on November 15, 1996, and died as a result. A son of Maine, Chief Sprague embodied a life of service. He was born in Bangor in 1948. He was a Coast Guard veteran, serving in Vietnam, and held numerous public safety positions in Maine, including as a member of the Portland Police Department and the Maine Department of Marine Resources, where he served for 21 years and worked his way up to chief of the bureau of the marine patrol. In 1995, he accepted his final position as the Rockport chief of police. Once at Rockport, he was described as a man with new ideas and visions for hiring and training. He lived a life of service, and Maine will never forget him. As we mourn the loss of these heroes, we must do our part to lift up the loved ones and communities they have left behind. May God bless Detective Campbell, Chief Sprague, and the others around the country who lost their lives. And may God continue to watch over those peace officers who go to work, with no guarantee they will return. They are examples for us all, and Maine will never forget them. ____________________
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