By Flores H.R. No. 300 77R6094 MDM-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The untimely passing of McAllen Police Chief 1-2 Alejandro "Alex" Romero Longoria on December 19, 2000, at the age 1-3 of 53, has brought a great loss not only to his family and fellow 1-4 officers but to the entire community; and 1-5 WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan exemplified in his personal and 1-6 professional conduct the virtues of courage, integrity, and 1-7 unwavering dedication, and his commitment to the law enforcement 1-8 profession, as well as to the community he served, earned him the 1-9 respect of all who knew him; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Born on December 27, 1946, in McAllen, Chief 1-11 Longoria graduated from Mission High School and served his country 1-12 with valor as a member of the United States Army Military Police 1-13 Corps while stationed in Vietnam and at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; 1-14 and 1-15 WHEREAS, He joined the McAllen Police Department in 1971 and 1-16 attained the rank of captain in 1981; he held an instructor's 1-17 certification from the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Officer 1-18 Standards and Education and was a 1983 graduate of the FBI's 1-19 National Academy; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Appointed McAllen's chief of police in 1985, he 1-21 promoted community-oriented policing and introduced such programs 1-22 as foot patrols, K-9 patrols, and bike patrols, Teen Court, the 1-23 D.A.R.E. program, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, and the 1-24 G.R.E.A.T. program; he also streamlined department operations and 2-1 enhanced the staff's effectiveness by introducing computer 2-2 technology; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Chief Longoria was instrumental in forming the South 2-4 Texas Auto Theft Enforcement Task Force and the Combined Government 2-5 Drug Enforcement and Special Crimes Task Force; he was president of 2-6 the Rio Grande Valley Law Enforcement Chiefs Association and was 2-7 involved with many worthy local and national professional and civic 2-8 organizations; and 2-9 WHEREAS, This highly regarded lawman served on the board of 2-10 policy review of Executive Issues of Policing, sponsored by the 2-11 National Institute of Justice and by Harvard University, and as a 2-12 member of the National Resource Board for Community Policing, 2-13 sponsored by the COPS Programs branch of the U.S. Department of 2-14 Justice; in addition, he was a governing board member and a 2-15 participant in the RIONet Police Information System Project, 2-16 sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Counter-Drug 2-17 Technology Assessment Center Division of ONDCP; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Alex Longoria's lifelong commitment to the safety of 2-19 others brought honor to him and to the McAllen Police Department; 2-20 he was nationally recognized for committing himself to the highest 2-21 standards of honor, integrity, ethics, and professionalism, and his 2-22 life serves as a model of exemplary conduct for law enforcement 2-23 officers everywhere; now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-25 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Alex Longoria and 2-26 extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, 2-27 Maria Longoria; to his children, Teresa Elena, Veronica, and 3-1 Alejandro Longoria II; to his grandson, Joshua Anthony Longoria; 3-2 and to the other relatives and many friends of this notable public 3-3 servant; and, be it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-5 prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 3-6 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Chief Alex 3-7 Longoria.