John Barrasso Honors Fallen Police Officers During National Police Week

Forbes Breaking News

During remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) spoke about National Police Week.

Transcript

00:00Republican whip.

00:06Thank you, Mr. President.

00:07Mr. President, I just come to the floor listening to the minority leader talk about energy.

00:12Energy.

00:13You know why he's in the minority and we're in the majority?

00:16It's because of energy.

00:19Because Joe Biden, former president, told the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency,

00:23to prioritize the climate over energy that's affordable, available, and reliable.

00:29And they tried to shove electric vehicles down the throats of every man, woman, and child in America.

00:34That's why they're in the minority and we're in the majority.

00:37People want affordable energy.

00:39And I'm here today on the floor and they're in the gallery.

00:41Many people from the state of Wyoming are law enforcement officers who are here as part of police week ceremonies.

00:50And they know about affordable energy.

00:53They know that this week in Wyoming, graduation week at home, gas at the pump is 50 cents a gallon cheaper than it was a year ago.

01:02So if they have to drive the distances around the state of Wyoming to see kids or grandkids at graduations,

01:08it's $10 a tank less to fill up now than it was a year ago when Joe Biden was in the White House and the Democrats were in charge.

01:15Wyoming is America's energy bread basket.

01:17We're a powerhouse of energy.

01:19And Mr. President, your home state of Oklahoma knows a lot about energy as well.

01:23We know what the American people want and it's not what Chuck Schumer is trying to sell here on the floor of the United States Senate or across the country.

01:30So when I come to the floor to talk about police week and hear the minority leader talking about energy,

01:38I just can't help but think about how much better we are now with this effort to unleash American energy

01:46than we were the last four years when they wanted to keep American energy in the ground and made it so hard

01:52for the hardworking men and women who produce that energy to do their jobs in ways that respect the environment,

01:59ways that protect the environment.

02:01That's what the American people want.

02:04That's what they voted for.

02:05And to hear the minority leader come to the floor where when they left office,

02:09Biden left office, energy prices were 30 percent higher than they were the day he came into office.

02:14American people said we can't afford this.

02:17We need a big change.

02:19And they got that change on election day.

02:21And I'm proud to be part of those who are being able to restore American energy dominance.

02:26I know the men and women who listen from around the country and certainly our officers who are here today

02:31know how important affordable energy is to our home state of Wyoming.

02:35But Mr. President, I rise today during police week with a message to our law enforcement officers

02:40and it's one they don't hear often enough.

02:43And it's a message of thank you.

02:45Thank you for the job you do each and every day.

02:48And not just to you, but to your families as well.

02:50Thank you for protecting our communities.

02:53Thank you for protecting our children.

02:55Thank you for protecting our nation.

02:58Look, in Wyoming we are so blessed to have law enforcement officers.

03:02Bravery, professionalism, capability, incredible individuals.

03:07There are 2,340 police officers in Wyoming.

03:12They serve across 77 departments in 23 Wyoming counties.

03:17For these protectors of peace, keeping our communities safe is more than a job.

03:22It's a way of life.

03:24And it comes clearly with unique challenges.

03:27Wyoming is a state with vast distances.

03:31That means officers face long drives, harsh winters, and moments where backup can be miles and miles away.

03:40There are also hiring challenges.

03:43We see these challenges nationwide.

03:46It means longer shifts and heavier burdens and fewer hands to answer the calls for help.

03:52Law enforcement officers are tested each and every day.

03:56And they deserve our nation's strongest support.

04:00Today we honor one such hero, Sergeant Nevada Crinkey, who was in the Sheridan Police Department.

04:09Sergeant Crinkey was a man of strong faith, selflessness.

04:14His colleagues said he always put other people first.

04:19Tragically, last year he became the first Sheridan officer to lose his life by homicide in the line of duty ever.

04:28He's also the first Wyoming officer since 1997 to die in the line of duty.

04:35He was only 33 years old.

04:38I attended his funeral last year in Sheridan.

04:41The same community that he vowed to protect and to serve showed overwhelming support.

04:49More than 1,800 people attended.

04:51It was the largest single event in Sheridan, Wyoming, since Queen Elizabeth's visit more than 40 years ago.

04:58Strangers stood shoulder to shoulder, often four deep, along the streets as a car bearing his body drove by.

05:09They waved American flags.

05:11They lined the streets as police cars escorted the family to the memorial service at the college.

05:18People came from all around the country to attend, even though they had never met and did not know Sergeant Crinkey.

05:26The local newspaper asked one of them, who had come from a long distance, why he came.

05:30He replied, I stand with those who stood for us.

05:34That's the Wyoming spirit.

05:36That's the cowboy code.

05:37Live each day with courage.

05:39Take pride in your work.

05:40Do what needs to be done.

05:42Sergeant Crinkey was a shining example of what it means to serve others.

05:49Fittingly, his name will now be etched onto the roll call of heroes at our National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial here in Washington, D.C.

05:58To pay tribute to Sergeant Crinkey, 39 law enforcement officers and their families from 13 Wyoming communities are here in Washington today.

06:08Many are joining us in the Senate gallery.

06:12With them is the Sheridan Chief of Police, Travis Koltiska.

06:17Chief Koltiska has worked at the Sheridan Police Department for 24 years.

06:24His job has allowed him to make his hometown a safer community and raise his five children with his wonderful wife Mandy.

06:32They're also here.

06:34When Sergeant Crinkey was killed, Chief Koltiska led the department through its darkest hour.

06:42Thank you, Chief, for all of your actions and for your leadership.

06:47Your actions helped so many in Sheridan during a difficult time.

06:53In a community where you grew up, where you were educated, where you raised your family, and where you continue to serve today.

07:03You are a high tribute to every man and woman in blue.

07:08It's been more than a year since that tragic day.

07:12To Sergeant Crinkey's family, to his wife Carla, and their daughter Bella, know this.

07:18Your husband, your father was a hero, and we will never forget him.

07:24Law enforcement officers face risks each and every day.

07:28The National Fraternal Order of Police reports in the first five months of this year,

07:33109 law enforcement officers were shot in the line of duty.

07:3725 were injured in ambush-style attacks.

07:42The solution to safer communities is to support law enforcement.

07:47And in the Senate, we are doing exactly that.

07:50This year, we passed the Lake and Riley Act.

07:52It's now the law.

07:53The President has signed it.

07:55The Lake and Riley Act included a provision from Senator John Cornyn of Texas

07:59that protects police officers from violent, illegal immigrant criminals.

08:04It requires immigration and customs enforcement to detain any illegal immigrant who attacks a police officer.

08:11The Senate also passed the Halt Fentanyl Act.

08:15This legislation imposed tougher penalties on illicit fentanyl traffickers.

08:19It gives law enforcement the tools that they need to get deadly drugs off the streets.

08:24To address recruiting challenges, I support President Trump's effort to increase officer pay,

08:31to improve training, and to seek tougher penalties for crimes against law enforcement.

08:36For four long years, Americans heard calls from Democrats to defund the police.

08:43America must leave those divisive anti-police policies in the past.

08:52We must focus on solutions to strengthen our communities and our law enforcement.

08:58It's not enough to fully fund the police.

09:00They must know that we have their backs.

09:02They must have both the tools and the trust to serve.

09:08And that's exactly what President Trump and Republicans in Congress are doing.

09:13This Police Week, Mr. President, let's renew our commitment to our law enforcement.

09:19Senate Republicans salute you, our officers, and we will always support you.

09:25Thank you, Mr. President.

09:27I yield the floor.

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