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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Melvin Martin is retiring as chief of the Abilene |
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Police Department on May 31, 2009, drawing to a close a notable |
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career in law enforcement that has spanned four decades; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Martin graduated from Eula High School in |
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1965; he served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 and went on to |
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earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Hardin-Simmons |
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University in 1976; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Martin joined the Abilene Police Department as |
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a patrolman in 1969; in 1975, he became a member of the Juvenile |
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Division, and his success in addressing youth issues led to his |
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promotion to sergeant in 1978 and to lieutenant in 1980; and |
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WHEREAS, Named deputy chief in 1990, this outstanding law |
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enforcement professional became chief of the Abilene Police |
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Department in 1994; he has implemented numerous initiatives that |
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have had a positive effect on the community, including a program |
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that places criminal justice education officers in Abilene schools, |
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the Supporting Neighborhoods and Parents Program for at-risk youth, |
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and the Holiday Hills program; he also opened the Child Advocacy |
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Center in the Law Enforcement Center; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Martin has made other outstanding |
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contributions to his community through his participation as a |
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member of the YMCA board for 18 years and the board of the Boys and |
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Girls Clubs of Abilene for 15 years; he founded the Taylor County |
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Juvenile Justice Association in 1980, and he has been president of |
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the Kiwanis Club and a member of the Governor's Statewide Advisory |
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Board on Homeland Security; he is currently president of the Texas |
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Police Chiefs Association; and |
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WHEREAS, The chief's many awards and recognitions include the |
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Liberty Bell Award from the Abilene Bar Association and the Friend |
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of Education Award from the Abilene Independent School District, |
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and he was nominated for the J. C. Penney Golden Rule Award from the |
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Boys and Girls Clubs of Abilene; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Martin has been described as a tough man with a |
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soft side, and his dedication, professionalism, and commitment to |
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protect the safety and welfare of the public are greatly admired; he |
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is the longest-serving officer in APD's history, and his legacy of |
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achievements will continue to benefit the citizens of Abilene for |
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years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Melvin Martin on his retirement as |
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chief of the Abilene Police Department and extend to him sincere |
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best 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 Martin as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |