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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Border safety is a matter of vital importance, and |
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South Texas has a growing need for highly trained law enforcement |
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professionals to ensure the security of the citizens of the Lone |
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Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Studies derived from Texas Workforce Commission |
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data indicate that the need for law enforcement personnel such as |
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police and sheriff's officers, detectives, and criminal |
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investigators will see a 21 percent increase between 2012 and 2021; |
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accordingly, approximately 2,000 new law enforcement positions |
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will be required in Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Starr, Willacy, and |
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Zapata Counties; and |
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WHEREAS, In order to prepare for the law enforcement |
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challenges ahead, the City of Pharr, South Texas College, the Pharr |
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Police Department, and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School |
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District have united to work for the development of a |
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state-of-the-art training complex, the proposed Regional Center |
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for Public Safety Excellence, in Hidalgo County; this complex will |
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benefit the entire region by launching innovative programs in |
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public safety and security, providing initial and continuing |
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education of law enforcement personnel in the Rio Grande Valley; |
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individuals will be able to attain basic peace officer |
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certification and credit toward an associate of applied science |
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degree, or to work toward a wide range of certificates, associate |
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degrees, and bachelor's degrees; and |
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WHEREAS, The City of Pharr has committed 40 acres for |
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construction of the center, which would be funded by local |
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community college bond proceeds; the RCPSE would be administered by |
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South Texas College in partnership with political subdivisions and |
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participating school districts in the Rio Grande Valley, and |
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through a memorandum of understanding with the city, the police |
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department, and the school district; currently, PSJA ISD offers |
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academic and workforce programs leading to certificates and degrees |
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in public safety and criminal justice; the Pharr Police Department |
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is licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer |
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Standards and Education to offer a police academy, and the |
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department will ensure that RCPSE programs and course curricula |
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satisfy any TCLEOSE requirements for approved training providers; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Establishment of a center for public safety |
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excellence received overwhelming support in the Texas house, which |
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passed House Bill 2883, 83rd Regular Session, with 145 aye votes; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, All those who are working on this important endeavor |
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are making a valuable and lasting contribution to public safety, |
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and it is most fitting to recognize them for their commitment to a |
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strong and safe Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the City of Pharr, South Texas College, |
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the Pharr Police Department, and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo |
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Independent School District for their outstanding collaborative |
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efforts to develop the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence |
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and to address the critical and growing need for highly trained law |
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enforcement personnel in the South Texas border region; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the city, the college, the police department, and the school |
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district as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of |
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Representatives. |