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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Chief Gary O. Smith of the Temple Police Department |
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is celebrating 30 years of service with the department in 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Smith joined the department in 1979; a native |
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of Temple, he was born in Scott & White Memorial Hospital and |
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graduated from Temple High School in 1978; continuing his |
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education, he went on to earn an associate's degree in applied |
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sciences from Temple Junior College in 1981; and |
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WHEREAS, Fulfilling a childhood dream of a career in law |
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enforcement, Gary Smith first worked for the police department |
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part-time, in the jail and the photo lab; eight months later, he |
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became a full-time dispatcher; and |
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WHEREAS, He soon became a patrol officer, at a time when a new |
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recruit was simply handed a badge and a gun and sent out on the |
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streets with another officer; after two months on the job, he |
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embarked on his formal training as a cadet at the police academy; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Smith excelled at his job from the beginning |
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of his career; he was named Rookie of the Year in 1981, and five |
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years later he was recognized as Officer of the Year; in 1988, he |
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established the department's Tactical Unit, and shortly thereafter |
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distinguished himself as the unit's leader; and |
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WHEREAS, This outstanding law enforcement professional |
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graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in 1991, and |
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four years later he was promoted to commander and put in charge of |
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the newly created Operations Division; Commander Smith then served |
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three stints as interim chief until he was sworn in as Temple police |
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chief in 2004; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure with the department, Chief |
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Smith has enjoyed the unwavering support of his wife and three |
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children, and his dedication to duty, commitment to excellence, and |
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compassion for others have earned him the lasting respect and |
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admiration of his fellow officers and the greater community; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Chief Gary O. Smith on his 30 years |
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with the Temple Police Department and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it 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. |