“We honor the brave officers all across the country who continue to serve, and truly remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty.”
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor to honor Wyoming law enforcement during National Police Week.
During his remarks, Senator Barrasso honored the legacies of Sergeant Nevada Krinkee of the Sheridan Police Department and Marshal Daniel Hansen of the Cokeville Police Department, who were tragically killed in the line of duty.
Senator Barrasso also discussed how the Working Families Tax Cutslaw made a huge investment in local law enforcement and is helping officers fight violent crime.
Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.
Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:
“This week is Police Week. We honor the brave officers all across the country who continue to serve, and truly remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty.
“Yesterday, I met with law enforcement officers from Wyoming here in the Capitol. There was a ranger from the Bureau of Land Management. She is from Buffalo, Wyoming.
“There were also two police officers from Sheridan, Wyoming – Part of the same police department that lost Sergeant Nevada Krinkee nearly two years ago. And they are in Washington, D.C. this week to honor Sergeant Krinkee.
“It was an honor to thank these heroes for keeping our communities safe.
“Every year, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial adds names of fallen officers to its memorial wall. It does this for officers who died in the line of duty in the previous year.
“It also adds the names of fallen officers from earlier years who, through extensive research, were recently uncovered. It lists their names on the memorial wall as well.
“This comprehensive roll call of heroes serves as a living memorial to all of the fallen officers in the history of our nation.
“This year, the names of 363 new fallen officers were added. That’s a high number.
“One of the officers is someone who died in the past, but research has disclosed should have been named. And that’s Marshal Daniel Hansen of the Cokeville Police Department in Wyoming. Cokeville is a small town along the western border of our state.
“Marshal Hansen wore the badge over a century ago. In a wild land at the time dotted by small frontier towns, the difference between civilization and lawlessness was a very thin blue line.
“On June 21st of 1912, the wife of a local business owner found a blackmail letter. It was signed by notorious outlaws. The note demanded $1,500, which was a fortune at that time. It also threatened to kill her and her family if police were warned.
“Although any backup was dozens of miles away, Marshal Hansen rode out to investigate. As he did his job, he was shot dead. It is believed that the murder of the Marshal had been targeted.
“More than a century has passed since Marshal Hansen died in the line of duty. Yet, his legacy of service, selflessness, and sacrifice lives on.
“Today, Wyoming officers proudly protect and serve across our state. Officers work double shifts. They answer emergency calls. They stay late into the night. They do all of this to keep their communities safe.
“And I am always going to support the men and women of law enforcement without apology.
“Today, Republicans are putting money back in the pockets of law enforcement.
“Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts law. That new law includes No Taxes on Overtime. For Wyoming officers, No Taxes on Overtime is not extra. It’s essential.
“The average tax deduction from No Taxes on Overtime this year is more than $3,100.
“Republicans are again delivering safer streets. The Working Families Tax Cuts law invests in local law enforcement. It helps officers fight violent crime.
“This year, violent crime is falling across the board. Murders, robberies, rapes, aggravated assaults are all down compared to last year. Clearly, supporting law enforcement makes our communities safer.
“By contrast, Democrats in Congress continue to want to defund the police. Democrats have left Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers unfunded since January.
“Tellingly, the Democrat Leader recently said on this floor that ICE and Border Patrol, he said, are two groups ‘nobody respects.’
“Radical Democrats continue to disrespect, to demonize, and to defund the men and women who keep us safe. Republicans are going to ensure ICE and Border Patrol are fully funded.
“And we are going to continue to stand up for the men and women who keep all of our communities safe.”
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