Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Lee Wayne Russ, a courageous law enforcement officer who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. Twenty years ago, on 29 October 2000, he lost his life while protecting innocent persons. Lee Wayne Russ was born on 19 June 1952 in El Paso, Texas. The son of a police lieutenant and a registered nurse, he was instilled with the value of service to others from a very early age. He began his career in law enforcement and joined the Ward County Sheriff's Office in 1989. On that fateful day in October of 2000, Deputy Russ was the first officer to respond to a domestic disturbance in progress at a home in Monahans, Texas. As he entered the home, he immediately took action to disarm the suspect and protect the victim, Ms. Norma Sepulveda Esparza. In the struggle that ensued, Lee received multiple stab wounds that would ultimately prove to be fatal. As the suspect resumed his attack on Ms. Sepulveda, Lee summoned his remaining strength to retrieve his service revolver and fatally shot the attacker before succumbing to his own injuries. That day, domestic violence claimed the lives of two innocent people, Mr. Russ and the person he was protecting, resulting in six children losing a beloved parent. Any law enforcement officer will tell you that domestic disturbances are among the most dangerous situations for an officer to encounter.…”