WASHINGTON — Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) spoke on the floor to introduce a resolution honoring the memories of the three law enforcement officers who were killed in Baton Rouge, LA on July 17, 2016.
Senators Ayotte (R-NH), Boozman (R-AR), Collins (R-ME), Cotton (R-AR), Hatch (R-UT), Inhofe (R-IA), Murkowski (R-AK), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL), Sullivan (R-AK), Tillis (R-NC), Toomey (R-PA), Vitter (R-LA), Moran (R-KS), Johnson (R-WI), Fischer (R-NE), Daines (R-MT), Enzi (R-WY), Perdue (R-GA) and Rounds (R-SD) all co-sponsored the resolution.
Read the full resolution here.
Watch Dr. Cassidy’s remarks here.
Dr. Cassidy’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to honor three brave men, Corporal Montrell Jackson, Deputy Brad Garafola and Officer Matthew Gerald.
On July seventeenth, these three men gave their lives while protecting their community when they were ambushed reporting to a 9-1-1 call. Deputy Nick Tullier, Deputy Bruce Simmons and Officer Chad Montgomery were also injured during this attack. Thankfully Deputy Simmons and Officer Montgomery have been able to return home to their families, however Deputy Tullier remains in the hospital. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.
Corporal Jackson was a ten-year veteran of the Baton Rouge Police Department was a loving husband to his wife Trenisha and father to his four month old son Mason. Following the shooting of Mr. Alton Sterling, Montrell wrote on his Facebook page, “…I personally want to send prayers out to everyone directly affected by this tragedy. These are trying times. Please don’t let hate infect your heart. This city MUST and WILL get better.”
Deputy Garafola, served the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office for over 24 years. He was a beloved son, husband to his wife Tonja and father to their four children Garrett, Braley, Brad and Samantha. He was remembered for always selflessly trying to help others. He once again acted selflessly, giving his life attempting to help another officer who had been injured during the attack and by doing so exposing himself to fatal gunfire.
Officer Matthew Gerald joined the Baton Rouge Police Department just last year. Before this he bravely served our country in both the Army and Marine Corps. Between 2002 and 2009 Matt completed three tours of duty in Iraq as a crew chief on a helicopter crew and received numerous awards and medals. Prior to his service in the Army, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in New Orleans and served four years in the service from 1994 to 1998. Matt was a loving son, husband to his wife Dechia (Desha) and father to his children Dawclyn and Fynleigh. His wife recently announced she is pregnant with their child.
Mr. President, each of these men shared common, core values that guided them—service, stewardship and sacrifice. They put the needs and well-being of others before their own.
Scripture says, “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
In protecting their community, these men gave the ultimate sacrifice, and I honor their lives and thank their families for their selfless service to the City of Baton Rouge and to the State of Louisiana and to the United States of America.