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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 of Law |
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Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, 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 which |
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positively impacted the Kaufman Police Department and the Kaufman |
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Community, 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 |
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African-American Chief of Police in the City's storied history, in |
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February of 1996, along with a local Pastor he co-founded a |
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community program called "A Day with the Law," the program was |
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originally an event that supplemented Black History Month and |
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targeted minority neighborhoods in the City of Kaufman, both adults |
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and children from these neighborhoods participate in an all day |
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event designed to increase communication between law enforcement |
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and the community; 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, 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 was 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. |