Ricketts, Fischer Announce Lincoln Police Sergeant as State of the Union Guest
March 6, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) announced their State of the Union guests would be Sergeant Tu Tran and his wife Cuu Nguyen.
“I often say Nebraska is what America is supposed to be,” said Senator Ricketts. “People like LPD Sergeant Tran are at the core of that belief. I’m grateful for his heroism and service to his fellow Nebraskans. I hope his attendance reminds President Biden and my colleagues of the lifesaving work our law enforcement do each and every day.”
“Tu and Cuu have dedicated their lives to the care and protection of their fellow citizens—a wonderful example of the community leaders who make Nebraska such a great place to live,” said Senator Fischer. “We’re so pleased to have them join us in Washington for this year’s State of the Union.”
“Cuu and I are honored to have been invited to the State of the Union speech by both Senators Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer of Nebraska,” said Sergeant Tran. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity given to us to be at an event showcasing our great democracy with the three branches of the federal government together under one historic building. We are grateful and humbled by the invitation of both great Senators from Nebraska.”
BACKGROUND ON SGT. TRAN
In February 2023, Lincoln Police Sergeant Tu Tran, 36, rescued a 27-year-old woman from a sinking car in a pond at the Wilderness Ridge Golf Course. The woman lost control of her vehicle during icy road conditions. Upon arriving at the scene and seeing the vehicle nearly submerged, Tran removed his police equipment, entered the freezing pond, and pulled the woman out of her vehicle before it sank completely beneath the surface. This was the second time Tran entered the water to assist a driver in need. In September 2022, Tran went into the water to assist a driver who had suffered a medical episode and drove into a different pond.
In honor of his heroism, last year, Tran was one of 18 people who received the Carnegie Medal, North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism. The medal is given to people throughout the U.S. and Canada who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.
Tran is a father of four and has been with the Lincoln Police Department for more than 14 years.
BACKGROUND ON RICKETTS’ SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
Ricketts has a long record of supporting Nebraska law enforcement as Governor and in the U.S. Senate.
Ricketts is a co-sponsor of the Back the Blue Act. The bill would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves. It also creates new federal crimes for assaulting a federally-funded law enforcement officer and for fleeing justice across state lines to avoid prosecution. Finally, it protects the self-defense and Second Amendment rights of law enforcement officers in more federal facilities.
Ricketts also supports various pieces of legislation that crack down on crime and give law enforcement more tools to keep Nebraskans safe. Some of these bills include The Targeting Child Predators Act, the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act, and the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act.
Ricketts was proud to support the successful Congressional effort to block the Washington, D.C. Council’s dangerous effort to lessen criminal penalties for a variety of crimes in the nation’s capital.