H.R. No. 845
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The citizens of San Marcos suffered a tragic loss
when Officer Kenneth Malcolm Copeland of the San Marcos Police
Department lost his life in the line of duty on December 4, 2017, at
the age of 58; and
WHEREAS, A native of Houma, Louisiana, Ken Copeland was born
on November 26, 1959, to Nile and Theo Copeland; he grew up with the
companionship of two brothers, David and Robert, and a sister,
Jennifer, and he moved with his family to Houston in 1971; after
graduating with a bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State
University, he began his law enforcement career in 1982 as a
corrections officer, working first in Huntsville with the Texas
Department of Corrections and then in San Jose, California, from
1988 to 1990; he went on to serve as a deputy sheriff with the Los
Angeles County Sheriff's Office from 1990 to 1995; and
WHEREAS, In March 1998, Officer Copeland took his oath as a
member of the San Marcos Police Department, and while fulfilling
his duties to the public, he continued his professional development
by earning certification as a master peace officer; in addition, he
concurrently spent 18 years in the United States Coast Guard, which
included service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and
additional work providing port security as a maritime enforcement
specialist in Corpus Christi; along the way, he also enjoyed
working with children in various capacities, and in 2017, he was
honored with the San Marcos PD Chief's Recognition Award for his
contributions as a volunteer den leader for a local in-school
scouting program; and
WHEREAS, Officer Copeland was blessed with the love and
support of his wife, Sheila Copeland, and he was the proud father of
two sets of twin boys, Nile, Noah, James, and Jonah; he also
treasured his nephews and nieces, Jason, Bradley, Joseph, Samantha,
Stephanie, and Alyssa, and his goddaughter, Sophie; and
WHEREAS, A courageous law enforcement officer, Ken Copeland
embodied the highest ideals of his profession, and although he is
greatly missed, his friendship, generosity, and selfless devotion
to his family and community will remain a lasting source of
inspiration; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Officer Kenneth
Malcolm Copeland and extend heartfelt condolences to his relatives,
friends, and fellow officers; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ken
Copeland.
Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 845 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 21, 2019.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House