R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
1-2 personnel provided invaluable aid in the recent standoff between
1-3 the Republic of Texas separatist faction and law enforcement
1-4 officials, and their efforts are indeed deserving of special
1-5 legislative recognition; and
1-6 WHEREAS, While Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety
1-7 troopers conducted negotiations with the armed group, the Texas
1-8 Department of Criminal Justice provided meals, water, and bedding
1-9 to the many law enforcement officials stationed on the scene; and
1-10 WHEREAS, The department provided even greater assistance when
1-11 two men escaped from the group's compound and fled into the rugged
1-12 wilderness of the nearby Davis Mountains; because the immense
1-13 terrain was inaccessible to vehicles, TDCJ tracking dogs were used
1-14 to pursue the fugitives, while correctional officers followed on
1-15 horseback and on foot; and
1-16 WHEREAS, These specially trained redbone hounds succeeded
1-17 where all else failed, twice picking up the trail of the fugitives
1-18 and leading officers to their location; tragically, two of the dogs
1-19 were wounded and another was killed in the line of duty, and a TDCJ
1-20 supervisor had to resort to deadly force when one of the fugitives
1-21 opened fire on law enforcement officials; and
1-22 WHEREAS, Throughout the Fort Davis standoff and subsequent
1-23 manhunt, law enforcement officers and personnel representing a wide
1-24 range of state, local, and federal entities worked together day and
2-1 night to effect a peaceful end to the crisis, and Texans owe a
2-2 great debt of gratitude to all of these fine men and women; Texas
2-3 Department of Criminal Justice representatives deserving of special
2-4 mention include TDCJ Executive Director Wayne Scott, Institutional
2-5 Division Director Gary Johnson, Senior Warden Terry Foster of the
2-6 Lynaugh and Fort Stockton units, and Field Lieutenant Eric Pechacek
2-7 and Kennel Sergeant Ralph Hager of the Lynaugh Unit, each of whom
2-8 made exceptional contributions to the resolution of this
2-9 potentially disastrous situation; and
2-10 WHEREAS, In the face of tremendous danger and with numerous
2-11 lives on the line, Texas Department of Criminal Justice personnel
2-12 responded quickly, decisively, and effectively to this unfortunate
2-13 situation; their expertise and assistance proved crucial throughout
2-14 the events that unfolded in and around Fort Davis, and their heroic
2-15 service will not be forgotten; now, therefore, be it
2-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-17 Legislature hereby honor the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
2-18 personnel who helped to resolve the standoff at Fort Davis and
2-19 extend to them deepest appreciation on behalf of all Texans; and,
2-20 be it further
2-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22 prepared for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as an
2-23 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Hightower
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 979 was adopted by the House on May
16, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House