By:  Leedom                                      S.R. No. 541
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the Texas is honored to recognize
    1-3  Children's Protective Services Investigations Supervisor
    1-4  Joyce Sparks for the many positive contributions she has made on
    1-5  behalf of the children involved in the Mount Carmel incident in
    1-6  Waco; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, Ms. Sparks became aware of the gravity of the
    1-8  situation that existed there in late 1991 and began efforts to
    1-9  bring the children to safety and out of the Branch Davidian
   1-10  compound; none of the allegations met the criteria required for
   1-11  direct intervention by her agency; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Ms. Sparks worked closely with the Federal Bureau
   1-13  of Investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety Intelligence
   1-14  Division, McLennan County District Attorney's Office, and the
   1-15  McLennan County Sheriff's Office to gather enough information to
   1-16  cause an agency investigation that began in February, 1992; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, In the course of that investigation, Ms. Sparks
   1-18  rendered invaluable aid to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and
   1-19  the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; in the year before the
   1-20  crisis, Ms. Sparks made at least four visits to the Branch Davidian
   1-21  compound to begin a dialogue with David Koresh; while getting
   1-22  information about the children, Ms. Sparks photographed the interior
   1-23  of the fortress and made detailed floor plans, including specific
    2-1  information about the weapons cache; this invaluable information was
    2-2  turned over to law enforcement officials; Joyce Sparks also served
    2-3  in an advisory capacity when she went with an Alcohol, Tobacco and
    2-4  Firearms agent to the compound; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Ms. Sparks has spent countless thankless hours
    2-6  working with the children who were recently released; she spent a
    2-7  great deal of time at the Methodist Home talking to and comforting
    2-8  the children from Mount Carmel; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, All of Joyce Sparks's actions over the past two
   2-10  years have demonstrated incredible devotion to her responsibilities
   2-11  and to her job; she has risked her own safety for the sake of the
   2-12  children to whom she is so dedicated; now, therefore, be it
   2-13        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-14  73rd Legislature, hereby applaud and commend Joyce Sparks for her
   2-15  resourcefulness and dedication in aiding law enforcement officials;
   2-16  and, be it further
   2-17        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
   2-18  her as an expression of great admiration and appreciation from
   2-19  the Texas Senate.
   2-20                                 _____________________________________
   2-21                                        President of the Senate
   2-22                                      I hereby certify that the
   2-23                                 above Resolution was adopted by
   2-24                                 the Senate on April 5, 1993.
   2-25                                 _____________________________________
    3-1                                        Secretary of the Senate
    3-2                                 _____________________________________
    3-3                                         Member, Texas Senate