Dirk Kempthorne: “for the past 5 years I have had the honor of sponsoring the resolution designating National Peace Officers Memorial Day.…”

“for the past 5 years I have had the honor of sponsoring the resolution designating National Peace Officers Memorial Day. This year we added the names of 159 officers to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Since the inception of this memorial, 14,662 peace officers have been added to the wall. Next year, two more names will now be added to the wall. These memorials and others around the Nation serve as proof that the individuals who serve this Nation, as our guardians of peace, do so at great personal risk. There are few communities in America that have not been touched by the senseless death of a peace officer by violent means. This community of Capitol Hill has been touched by tragedy. On Friday, two of our own, Officers John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut, were felled by an assailant while they performed their duties. America should know that for all the influence of this city and this place, this is, in some ways, like a small town. We know the people in this community as well as we know the people in our own communities back home. The employees who work here day to day become very familiar faces to those of us who are sent here temporarily by our States. The Capitol Hill Police have a very special duty and a very special trust. They guard this place, this summit of freedom, this people's house, and keep it safe for the citizens of the world. The Capitol Hill Police perform this duty with an unwavering commitment to our safety.”