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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Joel F. Fitzgerald, Sr., has rendered exceptional |
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service in his capacity as chief of police in Missouri City; and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Fitzgerald assumed his present office in April |
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2009, and since that time his leadership and commitment have helped |
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the community of approximately 70,000 residents remain one of the |
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safest cities in the nation; this distinguished law officer leads a |
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department of more than 100 employees, and in 2010 he took |
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justifiable pride in seeing the Missouri City PD named a Recognized |
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Law Enforcement Agency by the Texas Police Chiefs Association |
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Foundation; that same year, Chief Fitzgerald received the |
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President's Award from the Missouri City branch of the NAACP for his |
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tireless efforts to further the mission of the department and for |
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his service as a role model for young African American men who |
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desire to become police officers themselves; and |
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WHEREAS, Joel Fitzgerald began his law enforcement career in |
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1992 as an officer with the Philadelphia Police Department; over |
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the course of his 17 years with that agency he established a notable |
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record of achievement, winning the Officer of the Year award for his |
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district in 1993 and serving as commanding officer of |
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Philadelphia's Intensive Drug Investigation Division; as part of |
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his extensive training, he has attended an FBI certification |
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program in community policing, as well as the Police Executive |
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Development Institute at Penn State Abington; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating from Villanova University with a |
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bachelor of arts degree, Chief Fitzgerald earned a master's degree |
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in business administration from Eastern University in St. Davids, |
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Pennsylvania; he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from |
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Northcentral University; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Chief Fitzgerald enjoys the |
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love and support of his wife, Pauline, an 11-year veteran of the |
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Philadelphia PD, and their three children; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his unwavering dedication to protecting the |
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lives and property of his fellow citizens, Joel Fitzgerald has |
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earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues and the lasting |
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gratitude of his community, and his record of public service is a |
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continuing source of inspiration to all who know him; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Police Chief Joel F. Fitzgerald, Sr., |
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for his outstanding service to the people of Missouri City and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; 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 Fitzgerald as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |