| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Texas game wardens have protected their fellow |
|
|
citizens and the state's natural resources for 125 years; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1895, the 24th Texas Legislature established the |
|
|
office of Fish and Oyster Commissioner to enforce laws related to |
|
|
those industries; four years later, it gave the Fish and Oyster |
|
|
Commission jurisdiction over all public waters, including |
|
|
freshwater streams, lakes, and ponds, and it later added commercial |
|
|
shrimping to the portfolio; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The agency underwent several name changes before |
|
|
1963, when it became the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; in |
|
|
that era, wardens were first charged with promoting recreational |
|
|
water safety; the legislature designated game wardens as Texas |
|
|
peace officers in 1971, and eight years later, TPWD hired its first |
|
|
female game warden; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In the past decade, game wardens have formed |
|
|
specialized teams to expand their capabilities; these include |
|
|
underwater and swift-water recovery, forensic accident |
|
|
reconstruction, and unmanned aerial surveillance; a K-9 unit was |
|
|
launched in 2013, and game wardens have played a vital role in |
|
|
rescue and recovery following such disasters as Hurricanes Ike and |
|
|
Harvey; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A force once small in size and scope, game wardens |
|
|
now number more than 550, and they have been called "the Swiss Army |
|
|
knife of Texas law enforcement"; many have aided the COVID-19 |
|
|
pandemic response, delivering personal protective equipment, |
|
|
conveying samples to labs, and assisting at testing sites; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Over the course of more than a century, game wardens |
|
|
have worked tirelessly to safeguard the state's natural resources |
|
|
while taking on increasing responsibilities, and in so doing, they |
|
|
have earned the lasting respect and appreciation of past, present, |
|
|
and future generations of fellow Texans; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor Texas game wardens for 125 years of |
|
|
service to the Lone Star State and extend to them sincere best |
|
|
wishes for continued success in their endeavors; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Texas game wardens as an expression of high regard by |
|
|
the Texas House of Representatives. |