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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Officer Justin Ryan Scherlen of the Amarillo Police |
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| 6 | 7 | | Department is being posthumously honored with a Star of Texas Award |
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| 7 | 8 | | on September 11, 2017, at a ceremony in the House of Representatives |
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| 8 | 9 | | Chamber of the Texas State Capitol in Austin; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Established in 2003 by the 78th Texas Legislature, |
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| 10 | 11 | | the Star of Texas Awards annually recognize first responders who |
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| 11 | 12 | | have been seriously injured or killed in the line of duty; |
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| 12 | 13 | | recipients are selected by three advisory committees appointed by |
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| 13 | 14 | | the governor; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Officer Scherlen died on August 4, 2016, at the age |
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| 15 | 16 | | of 39, after succumbing to injuries sustained the previous year |
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| 16 | 17 | | when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, The son of Tom and Nancy Scherlen, Justin Scherlen |
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| 18 | 19 | | was born in Amarillo on December 19, 1976, and he grew up with the |
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| 19 | 20 | | companionship of his brother, Trevor; he joined the Amarillo Police |
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| 20 | 21 | | Department in 2004 and had served on its honor guard and dive team; |
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| 21 | 22 | | he was a devoted husband to his wife, Jessica, and a proud father to |
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| 22 | 23 | | his four children, Charity, Taylor, Jackson, and Elijah; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Texans owe an immense debt of gratitude to the men |
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| 24 | 25 | | and women of the law enforcement profession who willingly place |
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| 25 | 26 | | themselves in harm's way to protect and serve the public, and the |
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| 26 | 27 | | presentation of a Star of Texas Award in memory of Officer Justin |
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| 27 | 28 | | Scherlen ensures that his dedication and sacrifice will not be |
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| 28 | 29 | | forgotten; now, therefore, be it |
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| 29 | 30 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 30 | 31 | | Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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| 31 | 32 | | Officer Justin Ryan Scherlen on the occasion of his posthumous |
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| 32 | 33 | | receipt of a Star of Texas Award and extend sincere condolences to |
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| 33 | 34 | | all those who mourn his passing; and, be it further |
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| 34 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 35 | 36 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 36 | 37 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Officer |
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| 37 | 38 | | Justin Scherlen. |
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