{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/gardner-thanks-law-enforcement-during-holiday-season", "Gardner Thanks Law Enforcement During Holiday Season", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Cory Gardner", "G000562", "www.gardner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) spoke on the floor of the United States Senate today in honor of Colorado law enforcement officers and the sacrifices they make to keep Colorado communities safe.\r\nGardner remembered the lives of Colorado State Patrol Master Trooper William Moden, Colorado State Patrol Corporal Daniel Groves, Colorado Department of Corrections Sergeant Joshua Voth, and Summit County firefighter Ken Jones, who died in the line of duty this year while serving Coloradans. Gardner also honored South Metro Fire Rescue former Chief of Operations Troy Jackson, who passed away yesterday from a rare cancer believed to be job-related.\r\n\r\nNOTE: Click here or the picture above to view Senator Gardner's remarks.\r\nThis time of the year, I am reminded of the sacrifices that these brave officers make in order to make sure that everyone's holiday season is enjoyed safely, said Senator Gardner. Jaime and I would also like to send our thanks to the families of our law enforcement and first responders. Every day these men and women say goodbye to their loved ones, unsure of what the day will hold. I'm sure these goodbyes are much more difficult during the holiday season but without the love and support of those at home, the jobs of law enforcement would be that much harder. We thank them for their continued sacrifice.\r\n\r\nRemarks as delivered:\r\nMadam President, today I rise to give my thanks to the brave men and women of law enforcement in Colorado and across this country.\r\nEvery holiday season I am reminded of the sacrifice that these brave officers make in order to make sure that everybody's holiday season is enjoyed safely. And that every day is enjoyed safely and securely.\r\nAcross the United States this year, 115 law enforcement officers have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.\r\nIn Colorado, we honor those who lost their lives this year:\r\nMaster Trooper William Moden, who was killed earlier this year when he was struck by a vehicle as he was investigating a crash. He served with the Colorado State Patrol for 12 years.\r\nCorporal Daniel Groves who was also killed by a passing vehicle while assisting another driver during the blizzard last winter. Corporal Groves also served the State Patrol in Colorado for 12 years.\r\nUnfortunately, I also come to the floor to honor three other brave men and women, you can see them here, who have given their lives just this past month.\r\nSergeant Joshua Voth served the Colorado Department of Corrections and was stationed at the Canon City Correctional Facility. He was killed this month when an issue with a boiler caused an explosion.\r\nSergeant Voth was 28 years old and leaves behind his wife and three children. He served at the Canon City facility for three years and helped teach inmates valuable trade skills to help smooth the plan to rehabilitation.\r\nWe also lost other beloved members of our first responder community, they need to be remembered and honored as well.\r\nKen Jones, a member of the Summit Fire and EMS was killed on December 7th while responding to a fire at Copper Mountain.\r\nKen served with that department for 20 years and was known by his colleagues as a firefighter's firefighter.\r\nTravis Davis, the Deputy Chief of Operations for Summit Fire and EMS, remembers him as an Oak and said everyone in the organization learned something from Ken's steady and calm demeanor.\r\nWe thank Ken and his family for two decades of service and send our sincerest thoughts to all those who knew him.\r\nI would also like to recognize Troy Jackson, a former assistant Chief of Operations with the South Metro Fire Rescue, who passed away just yesterday morning after a battle with what is believed to be a job-related cancer.\r\nChief Jackson was first hired in 1990 and served nearly three decades before stepping away in 2016 due to his health. He was open about his battle with cancer in the hopes that he could teach other firefighters how to avoid these risks.\r\nWe thank Chief Jackson for his service and send our thoughts and prayers along to his wife and two children.\r\nEach one of these officers and firefighters we lost was a neighbor, a loved one, a member of the communities, extraordinary Coloradans who gave their life to protect their communities.\r\nAnd while we remember those that we lost this year, we must also continue to celebrate those who continue to serve today.\r\nIn August, I was fortunate to award Officer Micheal Lohman of the Greeley Police Department with the Congressional Badge of Bravery for his heroic actions apprehending the driver of a stolen vehicle in 2017.\r\nWhile at the driver-side window of the vehicle, the driver pulled a gun on Officer Lohman who immediately engaged with the driver to take the weapon.\r\nThe driver pulled Officer Lohman into the vehicle and began accelerating, dragging him along the street. Officer Lohman kept his cool and was able to pull the suspect from the vehicle while it was still moving, and apprehend him with the help of other officers.\r\nThese actions saved the lives of anyone and everyone in the path of that vehicle, as well as the life of his partner who was at the passenger side of the vehicle when the gun was pulled.\r\nThese actions give our communities piece of mind knowing that heroes like Officer Lohman continue to keep all of us safe.\r\nBut we know that every brave action doesn't get the recognition that it deserves. Every day there are law enforcement and first responders who act with complete selflessness. They do this not to seek recognition or praise, but simply because it is what they were called to do.\r\nJaime and I would also like to send our thanks to the families of our law enforcement and first responders. Every day these men and women say goodbye to their loved ones, unsure of what that day will hold for them.\r\nI'm sure these goodbyes are much more difficult during the holiday season, but without the love and support of those at home, the jobs of law enforcement, our first responders would be that much more difficult. We thank them for their continued sacrifice.\r\nI would also like to take a moment to say thanks to the men and woman of the U.S. Capitol Police. They work long hours to ensure that members of the staff and members themselves are able to carry out their duties safely.\r\nAnd on top of that important duty, they also protect the public who come to visit, to express their opinion, to express their right to assemble and speech, in the Capitol and beyond, not only to tour this beautiful Capitol building, but to make sure their thoughts are heard on our nation's policy issues.\r\nI know every one of my colleagues will join us in expressing our gratitude to law enforcement and first responders, not only in Colorado, but across this nation this holiday season. They will give up time with their own families to make sure others are safe.\r\nTo all those who defend that thin blue line, thank you and God bless. You have my enduring support. May you all have a happy and blessed holiday season.\r\nAnd I yield the floor.\r\n###\r\nCory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/gardner-thanks-law-enforcement-during-holiday-season"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.41002400778234, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}