Congresswoman: “In their Absence, Our Communities, Our Commonwealth, & Our Country Have Felt Tremendous Loss”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger — a former federal law enforcement officer — today marked National Police Week by reading the names of fallen officers from police departments and sheriff’s offices across Virginia’s Seventh District.

“Today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, I’m honored to read the names of fallen officers from Virginia’s Seventh District,” said Spanberger. “May they never be forgotten, and may their service and their sacrifice inspire their fellow law enforcement officers to continue to serve and protect.”

After reading their names, Spanberger added, “These officers were dedicated public servants, they were valued loved ones across our communities, and they represented the best of Virginia.”

Click here to watch her remarks, and a full transcript is below.

—

I stand here today to thank the men and women who work every day to keep our communities safe — and to honor those who have given their lives in service to our communities.

As the daughter of a retired career law enforcement officer and as a former federal agent, I know the responsibilities, the pressures, and the stress that can come with putting on the badge.

And I stand here today, during this National Police Week, to honor Virginia’s Seventh District and the officers who call it home.

Across our Commonwealth, we reflect on the service and the sacrifice of our community’s law enforcement officers.

And as the representative for Virginia’s Seventh District, it is my great privilege to represent so many public servants — the men and women who have answered the call to serve their fellow Americans, their neighbors, and our communities.

This week, and every day, we remember their colleagues and friends — those who never returned home. And in their absence, our communities, our Commonwealth, and our country have felt tremendous loss.

And today, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, I’m honored to read the names of fallen officers from Virginia’s Seventh District.

May they never be forgotten, and may their service and their sacrifice inspire their fellow law enforcement officers to continue to serve and protect.

From the Prince William County Police Department:

Police Officer Ashley Marie Guindon

Police Officer Chris Yung

Police Officer Philip Michael Pennington

Police Officer Paul Thomas “Pete” White, Jr.

From the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office:

Deputy Sheriff David William Myers, Jr.

From the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office:

Deputy Sheriff Jason Edward Mooney

Deputy Sheriff Ford T. Humphrey

From the Fredericksburg Police Department:

Police Officer Todd Allen Bahr

Officer William Franklin Mines

Sergeant Roy Glen Wright

Officer Ellsworth Alexander Moore

From the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office:

Captain James Anthony Sisk

Deputy Sheriff George Robert Lillard, Jr.

From the King George County Sherriff’s Office:

Deputy Sheriff Craig Lamont Brooks

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office:

Deputy Sheriff Strother W. “Ted” Lewis, Sr.

From the Greene County Sheriff’s Office:

Investigator Chadwick Alan Carr

Sergeant Rodney Lee Davis

From the Orange County Sheriff’s Office:

Sheriff William B. “Willie” Young

Sheriff Willie C. Bond

From the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office:

Deputy Sheriff Bryan Marshall Berger

Deputy Sheriff Dean Ridings

Detective Richard Lee Samuels

This week, we remember these officers, these Virginians, these heroes — someone’s loved one; fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, and children. Their names are not only remembered here in the U.S. Capitol and throughout the halls of Congress — but their sacrifices are honored throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

These officers were dedicated public servants, they were valued loved ones across our communities, and they represented the best of Virginia.

—

###