Political Quotes

“law enforcement officers from around the Nation--troopers, police officers, sheriff's deputies, professional corrections officers, conservation officers and rangers and federal law enforcement officers--are traveling to our Nation's Capital for the annual observance of National Police Week which begins on May 9 and continues through May 15. National Police Week is a solemn period, during which law enforcement officers recognize their brothers and sisters who died in the line of duty and provide support and comfort to the survivors. Last year, during National Police Week, I had the sad duty of acknowledging the loss of Officer James C. Hesterberg, the first member of the Alaska Department of Corrections to lose his life in the line of duty. This year, I must sadly acknowledge the loss of Officer John Watson of the Kenai Police Department who was fatally shot while on duty on Christmas night 2003. On May 11, as part of the National Police Week observance, Corrections U.S.A., an association of 90,000 publicly-employed professional corrections officers, will meet to honor their brothers and sisters who have performed acts above and beyond in the protection of public safety. It gives me great pride to recognize Officer Daniel Bates, an employee of the Alaska Department of Corrections, presently assigned to the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, who will receive the 2004 Silver Medal of Valor from Corrections U.S.A.”