88R33252 BPG-D
By: Burns H.R. No. 2434
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Kevin Kolbye retired as assistant police chief of
the Arlington Police Department in 2022, following a noteworthy
career spanning nearly four decades in law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, Mr. Kolbye was hired by the Dallas Police
Department, and four years later, he joined the Federal Bureau of
Investigation; he was named assistant special agent in charge of
the Dallas Field Office in 2007; during his tenure, he led the FBI
SWAT Team, participated in covert operations, and oversaw the
Criminal and National Security Branch; he received a temporary
assignment as the on-scene commander in Afghanistan in 2009 and
oversaw all investigation and intelligence activities in the course
of Operation Enduring Freedom; in 2013, he was selected by the FBI's
deputy director as the commander for the Benghazi investigation in
Libya; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kolbye joined the Arlington Police Department
in 2015, initially presiding over patrol operations; as assistant
police chief over the support operations bureau, he guided
investigative units in homicide, narcotics, traffic units, and
other specialized sections; admired as a dynamic role model and
caring mentor, he was called upon to co-lead the department upon the
retirement of Police Chief Will Johnson in 2020 and then served as
interim chief; following his own retirement in 2022, Mr. Kolbye has
continued to work to make Texas communities safer; he has provided
invaluable assistance as a champion of HB 2129, legislation
allowing merchants to offer theft education to a person suspected
of committing or attempting to commit theft; in recognition of his
outstanding effort, the law is to be known as the Kevin Kolbye Act;
and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Texas Tech University, Mr. Kolbye
earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and went on to complete a
master's degree in criminal justice at Tarleton State University;
he has also furthered his education at the FBI's Executive
Leadership Institute, the Northwestern University Kellogg School
of Management-Navigating Strategic Change, and the Senior
Management Institute for Police at Boston University, and he
graduated from the FBI National Executive Institute in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Kevin Kolbye has demonstrated an unwavering
commitment to the safety and well-being of his fellow citizens, and
he set a standard of excellence to which all law enforcement
professionals may aspire; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby honor retired Arlington assistant police chief
Kevin Kolbye for his exemplary contributions to law enforcement and
commend him for his instrumental role in the passage of HB 2129;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Kolbye as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.