SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1110
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize Officer Chris Sellers of the Houston Police
Department, who is receiving the Police Officer of the Year Award
for the North Patrol Command; and
WHEREAS, In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Officer
Sellers and his partner were conducting damage assessment for
apartments in Northeast Houston; in the course of this seemingly
ordinary event, he suddenly heard an urgent cry for help; and
WHEREAS, Instinctively responding to the screams, Officer
Sellers came upon a man holding a child captive with a sawed-off
shotgun in a dead-end alley between two buildings; Officer
Sellers ordered the man to release the child and to drop his
weapon; and
WHEREAS, The man refused Officer Seller's commands and
raised his weapon in the direction of the child; fearing for the
child's life, Officer Sellers opened fire; despite being
wounded, the suspect again pointed his weapon at the child, who
was now trapped at the end of the alley, and Officer Sellers was
forced to fire again; when the suspect turned as if to fire
directly at him, Officer Sellers fired again, ending the standoff
and saving the life of the child; and
WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers are challenged daily in
the course of their duties, but rarely do these challenges rise
to the level of the use of lethal force; in the face of a
life-threatening situation, Officer Sellers acted promptly and
professionally to safeguard the life of a child, engaging a
violent suspect without concern for his own safety; his courage
embodies the highest standards of the law enforcement
profession, and he is justly deserving of recognition for his
exceptional valor and devotion to duty; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
Legislature, hereby commend Officer Chris Sellers on his
bravery, quick thinking, and decisive action in saving the life
of a child and extend to him sincere gratitude for his heroic
actions; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
him as an expression of highest regard from the Texas Senate.
Gallegos
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 31, 2009.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate