Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for hosting this tonight. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Police Week. I recognize the dedication of law enforcement officers on the thin blue line, and condemn calls to disband, dismantle, defund, or abolish the police. No one dislikes bad police officers more than good police officers. Too often, we are quick to share the negative examples of law enforcement while failing to recognize excellent examples in our communities. Today, I will share a story about an officer in my district and one of the finest law enforcement officers in Kansas: Michael Utz. Chief Utz began his career with the Garden City Police Department in 1984. Over the next 36 years, he tirelessly served as a detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and ultimately chief of police. As police chief, Chief Utz led the department through the implementation of a citywide strategic plan, including the development of the Law Enforcement Explorer Program for students interested in pursuing law enforcement as a career; the Police Chaplain Program for hurting families; the PEER Support Program for police officers experiencing traumatic events; the Finney County Opioid Task Force; and the Ethnic Empowerment Network. Also during his tenure, Chief Utz encouraged authentic relationships, and he especially worked to build two-way relationships with racial and ethnic minorities.…”