By Maxey H.R. No. 312 77R7473 GMW-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Deputy Keith George Ruiz of the Travis County 1-2 Sheriff's Office was killed in the line of duty on February 15, 1-3 2001, at the age of 36, and we join his family and friends in 1-4 mourning their tragic loss; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A valued member of the Travis County SWAT team, 1-6 Deputy Ruiz was helping his fellow officers on the SWAT and 1-7 Narcotics Task Force to execute a narcotics search warrant at the 1-8 time of his death; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Born May 2, 1964, Deputy Ruiz earned a bachelor of 1-10 science degree in criminal justice from Southwest Texas State 1-11 University, with a major in law enforcement and a minor in 1-12 sociology; continuing his education, this esteemed public servant 1-13 attained his advanced peace officer certification on February 25, 1-14 2000; and 1-15 WHEREAS, In 1988, Deputy Ruiz joined the Travis County 1-16 Sheriff's Office and was assigned to the Corrections Bureau at the 1-17 Travis County Jail; two years later he transferred to Law 1-18 Enforcement, where he served with distinction for five years before 1-19 his transfer to the Tactical Unit in 1995; and 1-20 WHEREAS, In his years with the Sheriff's Office, Deputy Ruiz 1-21 had a distinguished peacekeeping career, earning eight letters of 1-22 commendation and 11 letters of appreciation, as well as nomination 1-23 for a 2000 Commendation Bar; and 1-24 WHEREAS, In his leisure time, this avid sportsman made 2-1 spending time with his family a priority in his life, serving as 2-2 his sons' T-ball and baseball coach for a decade and regularly 2-3 planning family outings with his loved ones; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Those who serve in the field of law enforcement are 2-5 among the most dedicated of all public servants, for they realize 2-6 that although their efforts may place them in exceptional physical 2-7 peril, that level of personal risk is necessary to ensure the 2-8 public's welfare; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Deputy Ruiz exemplifies the spirit of self-sacrifice 2-10 that is at the core of every peace officer's pledge to provide for 2-11 the public safety of everyone in the community; although his life 2-12 has been cut tragically short, his memory will live on in the 2-13 hearts and minds of the many people whose lives he touched; now, 2-14 therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-16 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Deputy Keith George 2-17 Ruiz and extend sincere sympathy to the members of the family he 2-18 held so dear: to his beloved wife, Bernadette Ortiz Ruiz and sons, 2-19 Matthew Anthony, Alexander Jesse, and Joshua Keith Ruiz; to his 2-20 parents, George and Mary Ruiz; to his brother and sister-in-law, 2-21 Kenneth and Cathy Ruiz; to his sister and brother-in-law, Shirley 2-22 and Marshall Littleton; and to his other relatives and many 2-23 friends; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 2-26 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 2-27 Travis County Sheriff's Deputy Keith George Ruiz.