Texas Ranger Drew Carter - Texas Lawman

TEXAS RANGER DREW CARTER--TEXAS LAWMAN

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, it was a scene out of an old western movie: The villainous outlaw, realizing his defeat, surrenders in the hot sun to the valiant lawman. For Texas Ranger Drew Carter however, there was no mistaking that this scenario was not some Hollywood fantasy, but a dangerous reality. On July 13, 1999, Ranger Carter was waiting, with a knot in the pit of this stomach, at the center of a bridge connecting El Paso, TX to Mexico. He was waiting for true evil to show his face.

This tale begins 2 years earlier when a series of brutal murders occurred in homes along the railroad tracks in Texas. Texans were paralyzed with fear by a serial killer dubbed the ``Railroad Killer.'' He baffled law enforcement because it seemed as if he randomly chose his victims and the times of the attacks, making it impossible to know who and when he would strike next. He used any weapon available: a pickax, a sledgehammer, a tire iron, a shotgun. The only common factor was that each victim lived by railroad tracks.

Slowly, through cooperation of local, State, and federal agencies, Angel Resendez Ramirez, an illegal Mexican immigrant would be wanted for the brutal slayings. He was elusive, slipping back and forth across the U.S./Mexican border more than a dozen times, and evading several FBI arrest traps. It would finally take the unyielding efforts of Texas Ranger Drew Cater to end Ramirez's violent reign.

The Texas Rangers are the most well-known and respected law enforcement officers in the WorId, more famous than Scotland Yard itself. Established in 1823 by Stephen F. Austin, the Rangers were the protectors of new settlers in the untamed Spanish Province, of what is now Texas. They have done battle with horse thieves, bank robbers, ``Indians,'' outlaws, and were even instrumental in the U.S.' success in the Mexican-American War. Over the next 150 years, the responsibilities of Texas Rangers grew to include investigations, fugitive apprehension, and assisting other law enforcement across the State. They are elite; there are only 118 commissioned Rangers, and Drew Carter had the aspiration of becoming one. He had dreamed of being nothing but a Texas Ranger since he was a small child. He was proud to wear that gleaming silver badge, white Stetson hat, and cowboy boots. Little did Ranger Carter know that he would make history.

As law enforcement combed Texas for Ramirez in 1999, Ranger Carter conceived an idea for Ramirez's apprehension. He knew that Ramirez was close to his sister and thought maybe she would be willing to convince him to surrender. Carter's instinct proved to be correct: Ramirez's sister was more than willing to convince Ramirez to surrender. She was worried he would be killed by law enforcement, or worse, that he would kill again. Over several weeks, Carter worked out a deal with Ramirez's sister. If Ramirez would surrender, Carter would make sure that he was protected in jail, could be visited by family and friends, and would receive a psychological evaluation.

Ranger Carter's terms were agreed to by Ramirez's sister, as well as by the district attorney of Harris County, TX, one location where Ramirez was wanted. The agreement was struck that Ramirez would peacefully surrender to Ranger Carter, and only Ranger Carter, on the middle of the bridge connecting Mexico and Texas. So on July 13, 1999, the demonic killer who had brutally terrorized the good citizens of Texas for nearly 2 years quietly shook the hand of Ranger Drew Carter and surrendered.

On June 27, 2006 Angel Resendez Ramirez was put to death for his crimes, effectively ending his reign of terror forever. Had Ranger Carter not acted with the intelligence and diplomacy of a Texas Ranger, this justice may have never been carried out. He is a humble man, stating that he did not apprehend Ramirez on his own. Mr. Speaker, Ranger Carter was aided by other Texas lawmen and federal agents; but it was because of his particular heroism and determination, a dangerous killer faced the justice he deserved. Today, I am honored to pay him this tribute.

That's just the way it is.

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