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[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 84 (Friday, May 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1084-E1085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  REMEMBERING PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY'S FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

                                 ______

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 1995
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay solemn tribute to the 21 
police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty during 
the 64 year history of the Prince George's County Police Force. Their 
sacrifice is overshadowed only by the tremendous contributions they 
have made to their communities and the gratitude of their Nation.
  We are painfully aware, Mr. Speaker, that it was in protecting others 
from harm that these men came to harm themselves. We know that our 
words will never replace what has been taken from their loved ones. For 
the families, the hurt will never diminish. The pain will never go 
away. And the memory of what was and the potential of what could have 
been will live with them always.
  I believe the strength of America lies in the responsibilities that 
ordinary citizens quietly fulfill everyday to their families, their 
communities, and their country. Law enforcement officers summon a 
special courage from within to go beyond the call.
  These officers do so without fanfare, without public acclaim and 
without a desire for personal gain. As long as there are courageous and 
committed men and women willing to walk in harm's way to protect us, 
our children, our communities and our way of life, then there will be 
an America.
  One of those officers who served bravely and nobly without fanfare 
was Prince George's County Police Sergeant John J. Novabilski. Sergeant 
``Nova'' as he was known was only 31 years of age when he was brutally 
struck down by a volley of bullets on April 26, 1995--A reprehensible 
and senseless act. John Novabilski joined the Prince George's County 
Police Force in 1988 after working as a Baltimore City police officer 
for three years. He was promoted to the rank of police officer first 
class in May, 1990 and to Corporal in November, 1991. Officer 
Novabilski was promoted posthumously to sergeant by acting Prince 
George's County Police Chief Alphonso Hawkins.
  Acting Police Chief Alphonso Hawkins said at Sergeant Novabilski's 
memorial service, ``To John's family and friends, I know there is 
nothing I can do or say to fill the void left in your lives, but you 
have my word that his sacrifice, and yours, will not be forgotten by 
our police family, the citizens of Prince George's County, or our 
Nation.'' Indeed, Mr. Speaker, the ultimate betrayal would be to 
forget.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert here in the Record, the names of 
those additional 20 police officers who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice to all of the citizens of Prince George's County, Maryland. 
The listing appeared in the May 18, 1995 edition of the Prince George's 
Journal.
                     Officers Slain in Line of Duty

       Edward D. Merson; Sept. 1, 1937. Officer Merson, who died 
     in a single-car accident in Muirkirk, was the first member of 
     the police force to be killed in the line of duty.
       Charles F. Caldwell; June 12, 1948. Officer Caldwell was 
     fatally shot with his own pistol by the enraged father of a 
     stabbing suspect. He was the first county officer to be shot 
     to death in the line of duty.
       Alfred W. Steinat; May 2, 1963. Officer Steinat was fatally 
     shot in the back by Thomas Hadder, who was wanted for 
     stealing a tire, during a struggle with the suspect.
       Joseph K. Brown; Feb. 19, 1966. Sgt. Brown was fatally shot 
     by Carl Knicely, the 17-year-old son of a man wanted for 
     indecent exposure, while serving a warrant for the youth's 
     father at their home in Adelphi.
       John W. Leatherbury Jr.; March 21, 1968. Officer 
     Leatherbury was killed in a helicopter accident while riding 
     in the craft as an observer during a routine night patrol. 
     The civilian pilot of the helicopter, William Hanley, also 
     died in the crash.
       Robert E. Yeszerski; Nov. 30, 1968. Officer Yeszerski and a 
     Seat Pleasant town officer were fatally shot by Willis 
     Underwood while attempting to impound Underwood's car from a 
     Seat Pleasant side street. Underwood was convicted of 
     murdering Yeszerski and officer William R. Clements in the 
     incident.
       William W. Gullett Jr.; Feb. 16, 1969. Officer Gullett was 
     fatally shot by James F. Jarred while attempting to disarm 
     the shooter at his Kentland apartment. Both Gullett and 
     another officer were able to return fire, killing Jarred.
       Carroll D. Garrison; Feb. 20, 1973. Officer Garrison was 
     fatally shot by James Law while investigating a burglary call 
     at a house in Chillum. Law, the owner of the house, turned 
     himself in to police a short time after the shooting, 
     claiming he mistook Garrison for a prowler.
       Albert M. Claggett IV/James B. Swart; June 26, 1978. 
     Officers Claggett and Swart were fatally shot by Terrence 
     Johnson with Claggett's service revolver inside the 
     Hyattsville District station. Johnson was convicted of 
     manslaughter in Claggett's death, and found not guilty by 
     reason of insanity in the death of Swart, recently was 
     paroled after serving 16 years of his 25-year sentence.
       Antonio M. Kelsey; Feb 2, 1980. Officer Kelsey was working 
     as a part-time security guard for a Kentland liquor store 
     when he was fatally shot by Steven Baines, who had approached 
     the officer with a bag of marijuana and then fled. Baines was 
     convicted of second-degree murder in the killing. Kelsey was 
     the first black county officer to be killed in the line of 
     duty.
       Raymond Hubbard; Feb. 8, 1982. Officer Hubbard was killed 
     by two men while trying to stop a jewelry story robbery at 
     Iverson Mall. The death of Hubbard, who was off-duty at the 
     time, is considered an in-the-line-of-duty casualty.
       Allan D. Johnson; Dec. 6, 1982. Cpl. Johnson, a motorcycle 
     patrolman, was giving a citation to a driver on I-95 when he 
     was struck by a passing vehicle. Johnson died two days later. 
     The driver of the vehicle that hit him was charged with 
     manslaughter and driving under the influence of PCP.
       Carlton X. Fletcher; June 11, 1983. Officer Fletcher was 
     working as a part-time security guard in Greenbelt when he 
     was shot by two men during an armed robbery. Fletcher's 
     killers were charged with first-degree murder and received 
     life sentences in the slaying.
       Richard J. Beavers; Nov. 29, 1983. Capt. Beavers was 
     fatally shot during a gunfight with two men who were 
     attempting to rob him in a Suitland parking lot. Beavers was 
     sitting in an unmarked car at the time of the incident. His 
     assailants were arrested and convicted of first-degree 
     murder.
       Harry L. Kinikin Jr.; Jan. 13, 1990. On Oct. 17, 1986, Cpl. 
     Kinikin was stabbed by a woman in the parking lot of a 
     Landover 7-Eleven, where he had stopped to make a phone call. 
     Kinikin survived for three years [[Page E1085]] after the 
     attack before dying in 1990 of complications from his 
     injuries.
       Mark K. Murphy; Sept. 1, 1988. Officer Murphy, a member of 
     the department's Emergency Services Team, died when shot 
     accidentally by two fellow officers while serving a search 
     warrant at the Riverdale home of a suspected drug offender.
       Ryan C. Johnson Jr.; April 22, 1992. Cpl. Johnson was 
     fatally shot in a gunfire with two teens who tried to rob him 
     in Capitol Heights. Both youths were convicted of murder in 
     the killing.
       Roger P. Fleming; Oct. 27, 1992. Sgt. Fleming was killed 
     while attempting to apprehend suspected car thieves in 
     Cheverly. Fleming was pursuing the men at high speed when he 
     lost control of his cruiser and struck a tree.
       John L. Bagileo; Feb. 28, 1994. Cpl. Bagileo died when he 
     lost control of his cruiser during a high-speed response and 
     crashed into a utility pole in Seat Pleasant. Bagileo's name 
     was inscribed this year on a national memorial to officers 
     who died in the line of duty.

  To the families and friends of those fallen law enforcement officers 
in Prince Georges County and throughout this great Nation of ours, 
words cannot express the sorrow for their loss nor the gratitude for 
their sacrifices. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with 
my colleagues the policeman's prayer.
  ``Oh Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom embraces the 
universe, watch over all policemen and law enforcement officers. 
Protect them from harm in the performance of their duty to stop crime, 
robberies, riots, and violence. We pray help them keep our streets and 
homes safe day and night. We recommend them to your loving care because 
their duty is dangerous. Grant them Your unending strength and courage 
in their daily assignments. Dear God, protect these brave men and 
women, grant them Your almighty protection, unite them safely with 
their families after duty has ended. Amen.''

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