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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 155
BY REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON
A RESOLUTION
To commend Bunkie Police Chief Mary L. Fanara upon her retirement and to congratulate
her for her distinguished public service career of thirty-seven years in law
enforcement.
WHEREAS, Mary Fanara began her career as a dispatcher for the Bunkie Police
Department in May of 1977, as the first female employee of the department; and
WHEREAS, during her initial year of service as the department dispatcher, Mary
attended and graduated from the Alexandria Police Academy; and
WHEREAS, as her law enforcement career progressed, Mary began working as a
patrol officer, diligently serving her community by answering calls and working traffic
details as assigned; and
WHEREAS, even though Mary Fanara's interest in the field of law enforcement
continued to grow, she chose to remain in her hometown area; and
WHEREAS, in 1990, she mounted a successful campaign for the office of city
marshal and served in that position until 1994; and
WHEREAS, Mary Fanara then campaigned for and won the election in her bid to be
the first female chief of police in Bunkie and served a four-year term of office from 1994 to
1998; and
WHEREAS, Mary continued her career and expanded her law enforcement
knowledge and expertise by serving for four years as a detective with the Avoyelles Parish
Sheriff's Office; and
WHEREAS, in 2002, Mary Fanara again campaigned for and won the election for
Bunkie's chief of police and will complete four terms as chief upon her retirement on June
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WHEREAS, it is appropriate that a heartfelt measure of the highest commendation
be extended to Mary L. Fanara for an outstanding career in the field of law enforcement and
for her leadership, intellect, and all of the incomparable talents she has lent to the Town of
Bunkie and the state, whose citizens will long reap the benefits of her knowledge, expertise,
compassion, and professional standard of excellence.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Mary L. Fanara, police chief of Bunkie,
Louisiana, upon her retirement after a long and distinguished career of dedicated law
enforcement service spanning thirty-seven years, does hereby record for posterity her noble
accomplishments and express appreciation for the deep sense of pride and honor she brings
to the Bunkie area and the state, and does hereby extend to her every good wish for success
and happiness in all of her future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Police Chief Mary L. Fanara.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES