On the recordApril 24, 2012
Mr. Speaker, when lawless drug dealers, child molesters, wife beaters, robbers, bandits, and other street terrorists threaten our communities, peace officers are always the first ones to track them down. Peace officers are the last strand of wire in the fence against good and evil. These men and women put themselves in danger every day in order to protect us and our families. Some put on the uniform and badge and do not return home after their shifts. There has been an alarming 75 percent increase in police officer deaths since 2008. The year 2011 was the first time more officers died at the hands of street thugs than in car crashes. In many instances, the killers were repeat offenders who shouldn't have been roaming the streets in the first place. As we approach Peace Officers Memorial Day in May, we have to support those that protect the homefront. They are what separate us from the outlaws and the anarchy of the lawless. And that's just the way it is. ____________________
