| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 478 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The Irving Police Department has worked with |
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| 6 | 6 | | exceptional skill and dedication to ensure the safety of Irving |
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| 7 | 7 | | residents, and the city's crime rate was reduced to a record low in |
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| 8 | 8 | | 2008; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Police Chief Larry Boyd and his officers have |
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| 10 | 10 | | undertaken a number of crucial initiatives to address the root |
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| 11 | 11 | | causes of crime and disorder; working in close cooperation with |
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| 12 | 12 | | city officials, the department prioritized code enforcement in |
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| 13 | 13 | | keeping with the "broken windows theory" that crime thrives when |
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| 14 | 14 | | neighborhoods are not clean and well kept; one of the most dangerous |
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| 15 | 15 | | streets in the area experienced a 75 percent drop in crime after |
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| 16 | 16 | | neglected buildings were targeted; in addition, 19 substandard |
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| 17 | 17 | | multifamily properties and three rundown motels across the city |
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| 18 | 18 | | were closed, prompting many landlords to swiftly address problems |
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| 19 | 19 | | at their properties; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, The department also increased the police presence at |
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| 21 | 21 | | two troubled apartment complexes, resulting in remarkable |
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| 22 | 22 | | improvements; the department has used volunteers as a valuable |
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| 23 | 23 | | resource and has deployed five new cars for trained citizens to |
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| 24 | 24 | | patrol neighborhoods; in order to reduce vehicle thefts and |
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| 25 | 25 | | burglaries, the force added five sky-watch trailers; moreover, the |
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| 26 | 26 | | department participates in the Criminal Alien Program of United |
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| 27 | 27 | | States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and in a little over two |
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| 28 | 28 | | years referred to ICE a record number of arrestees believed to be in |
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| 29 | 29 | | the country illegally; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Since 2004, Irving's crime rate has fallen steadily |
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| 31 | 31 | | on an annual basis and has declined from 55.12 to 45.30 crimes per |
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| 32 | 32 | | 1,000 residents over the past five years; the entire police force |
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| 33 | 33 | | has demonstrated exceptional diligence and professionalism, and |
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| 34 | 34 | | its members can take great pride in their successful efforts to |
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| 35 | 35 | | fight crime; now, therefore, be it |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 37 | 37 | | Legislature hereby commend Chief Larry Boyd and the Irving Police |
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| 38 | 38 | | Department for their noteworthy achievements and extend to them |
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| 39 | 39 | | sincere appreciation for their outstanding work; and, be it further |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 41 | 41 | | prepared for Chief Boyd and the department as an expression of high |
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| 42 | 42 | | regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 43 | 43 | | Harper-Brown |
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| 44 | 44 | | ______________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 46 | 46 | | I certify that H.R. No. 478 was adopted by the House on |
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| 47 | 47 | | February 17, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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| 48 | 48 | | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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