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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Chief James M. Smith is a deserving recipient for |
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the award of public service given by the Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, and Chief Smith |
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exemplifies the true meaning of achievement; through his 19 years |
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of service, he has initiated and participated in programs that |
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positively impacted the Kaufman Police Department and the Kaufman |
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community, and his leadership skills and ability to cooperate with |
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diverse populations have led to positive relationships; and |
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WHEREAS, James M. Smith was appointed as chief of police in |
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Kaufman, Texas, on December 7, 1995, becoming the first African |
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American chief of police in the city's storied history; in February |
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1996, along with a local pastor, he cofounded a community program |
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called "A Day with the Law"; the program was originally an event |
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that supplemented Black History Month and targeted minority |
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neighborhoods in the city of Kaufman; adults and children from |
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these neighborhoods participate in an all-day event designed to |
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increase communication between law enforcement and the community; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The event included practical exercises related to |
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law enforcement that provided public education on various criminal |
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procedures, and representatives from federal, state, and local law |
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enforcement volunteered their time to answer questions and to |
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encourage young people to stay in school and out of trouble; since |
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its inception, the program has expanded to the Dallas-Fort Worth |
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Metroplex; and |
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WHEREAS, A philanthropic member of his community, Chief Smith |
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also has served and currently serves as senior pastor at Bold |
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Pilgrim Baptist Church in Kaufman, a Kaufman Chamber of Commerce |
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director, a commissioner with the Kaufman County Historical |
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Society, a trustee for the Presbyterian Hospital of Kaufman, a |
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director for Kaufman County United Way, and the Teen Pregnancy |
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Center; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Smith demonstrates the ideal characteristics |
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of a community leader; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby join in congratulating Chief James M. Smith upon |
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being the recipient of the award for public service; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Chief Smith as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Brown of Kaufman |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1960 was adopted by the House on May |
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18, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |