Hatch to Honor Utahns in National Police Week Speech
Washington, D.C.—On the Senate floor today, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-UT, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, will honor West Valley City Police Officer Cody Brotherson, Salt Lake Unified Police Officer Douglas Barney, and Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Ellsworth, three law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty last year in Utah.
Hatch will also pay tribute to Salt Lake City Police Officer Ben Hone for his heroics in rescuing Bre and Kayli Lasley, two women who were attacked in their Salt Lake home in 2015.
The speech will take place on the Senate floor today at 2:15 PM. Watch the speech live on the Senate floor webcast
Below is a preview from Senator Hatch’s speech:
In September 2015, a man armed with a knife climbed through a bedroom window in the Salt Lake City apartment of Bre and Kayli. Once inside, he brutally beat both sisters before pulling out a knife and repeatedly stabbing Bre. Just as the attacker raised his knife to Bre’s throat, Salt Lake City Police Officer Ben Hone charged into the room. He told the intruder to drop his knife. In that critical moment, with lives literally hanging in the balance, Bre remembers, “That’s when I saw the officer, and he was our angel…I looked at the officer in his eyes, and he was so professional and calm.”
When the attacker refused to surrender his weapon, Officer Hone raised his service pistol and fired, killing the armed intruder and saving Bre’s life. In that moment Officer Hone was truly Bre’s guardian angel. As she remembers, “When [we] made eye contact, I knew I was safe. It’s a miracle that he had so much composure and was able to take that shot.”
In recognition of his heroism, Officer Ben Hone was honored by the National Associations of Chiefs of Police and the American Police Hall of Fame as the 2015 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. It was an honor richly deserved.
Officer Hone survived that day. For that we give thanks. But the sad reality is, many lose their lives in the line of duty. And so today, I wish to honor those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the highest price that society can ask. Our debt to them will not—indeed, cannot—be repaid.
Among the fallen is Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Ellsworth, who died only a few days after being struck by a car while on duty in Box Elder County. We also mourn the passing of West Valley City Police Officer Cody Brotherson and Salt Lake Unified Police Officer Douglas Barney, who were both killed in the line of duty this past year in Utah. I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of these brave heroes, and the countless others who have experienced similar tragedies.
Watch the speech live on the Senate floor webcast:
Who:
Senator Orrin Hatch
What:
Speech on the Senate floor on National Police Week, in supporting our law enforcement with legislation to make their jobs easier.
When:
Tuesday May 16, 2:15 p.m. EST
Where:
United States Senate floor, watch on the Senate floor webcast.
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