TITLE: Commending local, state, and federal law enforcement officers for their swift and forceful response to the incident in Waco on May 17, 2015.

SUMMARY: Commending local, state, and federal law enforcement officers for their swift and forceful response to the incident in Waco on May 17, 2015.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Members of the Waco Police Department, the McLennan County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies responded swiftly and forcefully to a violent melee in Waco on May 17, 2015, that left 9 people dead, 18 injured, and 170 under arrest; and WHEREAS, On that Sunday afternoon, five rival motorcycle clubs took part in a meeting at a sports bar near Interstate 35, and the tensions between the groups soon led to a violent altercation that resulted in open combat with chains and knives and culminated in a wild exchange of gunfire; and WHEREAS, More than 10 days before the incident, the Criminal Investigation Division and the gang investigator of the Waco PD became aware of the danger posed by this upcoming meeting of the organizations, and they began to prepare their response, planning to be present at the event to gather intelligence and to act if necessary; and WHEREAS, By noon of May 17, units from DPS and Waco PD were on hand at the sports bar; when the first shots were fired by 12:25 p.m., troopers and police officers responded swiftly, and despite the chaos of the situation, they managed to secure the scene by 1:25 p.m.; and WHEREAS, Over the next 12 hours, law enforcement officers from agencies all over Central Texas, as well as federal agents, arrived to assist in the massive effort to tend to those wounded and killed, take statements from the hundreds of suspects and witnesses, and gather the huge amount of evidence present at the scene; and WHEREAS, This enormous, cross-jurisdictional effort was coordinated by Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman and McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara, with Waco PD Sergeant W. Patrick Swanton serving as press spokesperson; along with the Waco PD and DPS, the law enforcement agencies and personnel that participated included the Texas Rangers, the McLennan County Sheriff's Office, the McLennan County Constables Office, McLennan County correctional officers, the FBI, the DEA, and the police departments of Austin, Robinson, Hewitt, Woodway, Lorena, and West; and WHEREAS, The foresight, careful planning, and swift action by officers of the Waco PD and DPS, as well as the vital assistance of many other local, state, and federal agencies, prevented the shocking events of May 17 from resulting in an even greater tragedy, and the citizens of Waco and Central Texas owe a debt of gratitude to these courageous men and women for their expertise in quickly putting a stop to the violence; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commend all those law enforcement professionals who responded to the incident in Waco on May 17, 2015, and extend to the officers and agents sincere appreciation for a job well done; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the agencies involved as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Anderson of McLennan Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 3335 was adopted by the House on May 30, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House