80R19925 KOB-D

By: Murphy H.R. No. 2213

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The city of Houston has lost an admired citizen and public servant with the passing of Constable Glen D. Cheek, who died on April 26, 2007, at the age of 65; and

WHEREAS, Born to Erma and Morgan Cheek in Rosenberg on March 15, 1942, Glen Cheek was a successful athlete at Orchard High School before entering Wichita State University on a football scholarship; while he was a starting running back for his team, it won the Western Athletic Conference and earned a berth in the Sun Bowl; and

WHEREAS, After knee injuries effectively ended his football career, Constable Cheek returned to Houston and joined the Houston Police Department; he graduated from the police academy in September 1963 and served as a patrolman in the Radio Patrol Bureau and later as a criminal investigator; promoted to sergeant in 1969, he was assigned to the Tactical Squad, the forerunner of the SWAT Bureau, and then to the Southwest Patrol Bureau; and

WHEREAS, At the request of the captain of the Juvenile Division, Glen Cheek transferred from the Patrol Bureau to that unit in 1980; he joined the newly created Sex Crimes unit and remained with the Juvenile Division until his retirement from the police department in November 1984; and

WHEREAS, Glen Cheek became the chief deputy constable of Precinct 5 on January 2, 1985, and over the next four years he helped to develop that precinct into a respected law enforcement agency; in 1988 he was elected as constable himself, and he proceeded to win reelection to that office four more times, serving in that post until the end of his life; and

WHEREAS, Glen Cheek was an effective administrator of the Contract Deputy Program in Harris County; this program provides to residents of contracting subdivisions highly visible and rapid response to calls, which results in a substantial reduction of criminal activity; in addition, the program also encourages neighborhood-oriented policing by assigning deputies permanently to specific communities, allowing officers to become familiar with the residents of the areas they patrol; and

WHEREAS, Among the well-deserved accolades received by Constable Cheek over the years were a citation from the 57th Texas Legislature for his outstanding athletic and academic accomplishments, recognition from the River Oaks Optimist Club for his superb contribution to the community, a Law Enforcement Award of Merit from the Exchange Club of the Magic Circle, and commendation for work in high crime areas from the district attorney's office; and

WHEREAS, Constable Cheek held lifetime membership in the Houston Police Officers Association, and served on its board of directors for two terms; he was also a lifetime member of the Constable and Justice of the Peace Association, a member of the Southwest 2000 civic organization, and an ex officio board member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; and

WHEREAS, A staunch supporter of programs for area youth, Constable Cheek was a sponsor of Southwest Fun Football, the Alief Soccer Club, the Glenshire Swim Team, Braeburn Valley Little League, Westbury Little League, Bellaire Little League, and Fort Bend Little League; and

WHEREAS, Glen D. Cheek embodied the highest ideals of the law enforcement profession, and his steadfast devotion to the welfare of his community is indeed deserving of his fellow citizens' deepest gratitude; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Constable Glen D. Cheek and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his daughter, Devon Cheek; to his son, Justin Cheek; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Constable Glen D. Cheek.