Val Demings: “I thank the gentleman for his tribute. Mr. Speaker, as someone who served 27 years in law enforcement, who had the honor…”

“I thank the gentleman for his tribute. Mr. Speaker, as someone who served 27 years in law enforcement, who had the honor of serving as the chief of police, one thing I know for sure is that the police are the community, and the community is the police. The police and the community are one. We are one. I do believe that when we come together, we can do anything, that we can have some of the safest communities that America has to offer, that we can truly be, in America, what we were created to be. We honor the men and women who put on the badge and the uniform every day, Mr. Speaker, and go to work not knowing whether they will ever make it back to their homes, to their families, to their loved ones. I am honored to stand once again--I have done it for a lot of years now--to honor National Police Week and recognize the men and women who have paid it all. Many have given much, but the men and women in law enforcement who have laid down their lives to keep us safe have given their all. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”