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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of Chief Gregory K. Allen of the El Paso |
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Police Department on January 17, 2023, at the age of 71; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Grady R. Allen and Janet Lee, Greg Allen |
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was born in Fort Bliss to a military family, and he lived in a number |
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of cities in the U.S. and Germany during his childhood; his family |
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eventually settled in El Paso, and he graduated from Bel Air High |
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School in 1969; he subsequently worked as a martial arts instructor |
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at the local YMCA before earning a bachelor's degree in sociology |
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from The University of Texas at El Paso; he went on to accept a |
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position with the West Texas Council on Alcoholism; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Allen began his career in law enforcement in |
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1978, when he joined the El Paso Police Department as a patrol |
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officer; over the course of his more than 44 years with the agency, |
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he served as a training specialist, sergeant, lieutenant, and |
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deputy chief, and he was a member of several high-profile units, |
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including the Gang Task Force and the Auto Theft Task Force; he |
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further distinguished himself in his roles as supervisor of a |
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full-time SWAT Unit and commander of the Dignitary Protection Team; |
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appointed chief of the El Paso Police Department in March 2008, he |
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was the first African American officer to hold that position; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Allen skillfully guided the department |
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through a period of tremendous growth, and under his able |
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leadership, El Paso ranked as one of the safest cities in the nation |
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for four consecutive years from 2010 to 2013; he also played an |
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instrumental role in responding to the community's most difficult |
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challenges, including the tragic mass shooting in 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, Blessed with a devoted family, Chief Allen benefited |
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from the love and support of his wife, Rosanne, and their children; |
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he enjoyed studying martial arts during his leisure hours, and he |
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was inducted into the El Paso Boxing and Martial Arts Hall of Fame; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A dedicated law enforcement professional, Greg |
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Allen devoted himself to serving the community he loved, and he |
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leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire all those who |
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were fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Chief Gregory K. Allen and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family; to his wife, |
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Rosanne Allen; to his children, Joseph Silva, Christopher Paulos, |
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Nicole Broeckel, and Monique Pasco; to his brother, Geoffrey Allen, |
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and his sister, Sylvia Brown; to his eight grandchildren and two |
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great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and many friends; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Greg Allen. |