| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Deputy Joshua Shane Mitchell of the Reagan County |
|
|
Sheriff's Office was killed in the line of duty on August 1, 2012, |
|
|
at the age of 26, and his untimely death represents a tragic loss to |
|
|
his family, to his fellow officers, and to the entire community of |
|
|
Big Lake; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born on July 22, 1986, in Wichita Falls, Josh |
|
|
Mitchell attended Reagan County High School and began his career |
|
|
with the sheriff's office as a night jailer while earning his degree |
|
|
from Howard College; he then entered the Concho Valley Regional Law |
|
|
Enforcement Academy, and after graduating, he joined the department |
|
|
as a patrol officer in 2008; that same year, he married his high |
|
|
school sweetheart and the love of his life, the former Jill |
|
|
Matthews; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Deputy Mitchell enjoyed working with children and in |
|
|
2011 became a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) officer in |
|
|
local schools; the following year, he began his duties as a K-9 |
|
|
officer, patrolling the streets of Big Lake with his trained |
|
|
sidekick, Sherlock; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Beyond his official duties with the sheriff's |
|
|
department, Deputy Mitchell was a firefighter for the North Reagan |
|
|
County and Big Lake Volunteer Fire Departments, the latter of which |
|
|
named him its Rookie of the Year in 2007; he often served alongside |
|
|
his mother, who is also a volunteer firefighter; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Known for his easy demeanor and kind nature, Deputy |
|
|
Mitchell was passionate about the west Texas region in which he |
|
|
lived; he involved his family and friends in many of his outdoor |
|
|
adventures, including fishing, hunting, boating, and farming, and |
|
|
he also took time out of his busy schedule to care for the lawn of |
|
|
Community Baptist Church in Stiles, where he was a member; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This courageous Texan exemplified the highest |
|
|
standards of his profession, and he will long be remembered for his |
|
|
profound dedication to public service and for his tireless efforts |
|
|
in behalf of his fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Deputy Josh Mitchell |
|
|
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
|
|
wife, Jill Mitchell; to his mother, Cindy Mitchell; to his sisters, |
|
|
Bethany Hardison and Jacy Mankin and her husband, J. L.; to his |
|
|
grandparents, Marvin and Betty Mitchell; to his father-in-law and |
|
|
mother-in-law, Jimmy and Linda Matthews; to his sister-in-law, |
|
|
Julie Matthews; to his brother-in-law, Michael Matthews, and his |
|
|
wife, Natalie; to his other relatives and friends; and to all those |
|
|
associated with the Reagan County Sheriff's Office; 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 Deputy Josh |
|
|
Mitchell. |