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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Chief Don Crowson of the Arlington Fire Department |
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is retiring on May 31, 2023, drawing to a close an outstanding |
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career with the agency that has spanned four decades; and |
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WHEREAS, Don Crowson joined the Arlington Fire Department in |
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1983; he climbed the ranks in the decades that followed and was |
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appointed fire chief and director of emergency management in 2010; |
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during his time in that role, he has skillfully guided department |
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operations and played an instrumental role in overseeing the city's |
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response to natural disasters and other emergencies; moreover, he |
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has directed public safety operations for a number of major events, |
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including two World Series games and a Super Bowl; and |
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WHEREAS, In the course of his duties, Chief Crowson directs |
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the city's emergency management team and the 911 Dispatch Center, |
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and his wide-ranging responsibilities also include managing the |
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Arlington Emergency Medical Services System and chairing the |
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Tarrant County 911 District Board of Managers; in addition, he has |
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formed partnerships with other organizations to expand the fire |
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department's services and meet the needs of the community; in 2005, |
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he helped establish the agency's Bomb Squad, which has become the |
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largest explosive ordnance disposal unit in North Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Chief Crowson's able leadership, the |
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Arlington Office of Emergency Management earned accreditation by |
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the Emergency Management Accreditation Program, becoming just the |
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sixth agency in the nation to receive that designation, and the |
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Arlington Fire Department earned the top Public Protection |
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Classification rating from the Insurance Services Office in 2017; |
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that same year, Chief Crowson became the first fire chief in the |
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nation to receive the American Medical Association's Dr. Nathan |
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Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service in the category of |
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career public servant at the local level; and |
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WHEREAS, Don Crowson's dedication, hard work, and commitment |
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to excellence have greatly benefited the citizens of Arlington and |
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earned him the respect and admiration of his fellow first |
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responders, and he may indeed reflect with pride on a career well |
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spent as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his life; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Chief Don Crowson on his retirement |
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from the Arlington Fire Department and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Chief Crowson as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |