TITLE: Recognizing Vicente Ramirez for his career in law enforcement.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Vicente Ramirez for his career in law enforcement.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Vicente Ramirez of San Antonio embodied the highest ideals of his profession over the course of an outstanding 32-year career in law enforcement; and WHEREAS, A 1959 graduate of Harlandale High School, Vince Ramirez graduated from the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy in January 1963, and on March 4, 1964, he became one of the first two Hispanic highway patrolmen in the department's history; he went on to work for several years with the DPS Criminal Intelligence Division, and he later provided security for Governor John Connally and Lieutenant Governor Preston Smith at the 1968 World's Fair in San Antonio; he joined the United States Customs Service in 1972; and WHEREAS, Mr. Ramirez became a special agent in Laredo for the newly organized Drug Enforcement Administration in July 1973, and for the next decade, he was on the front lines of the war on drugs, interdicting illegal drugs and collecting international intelligence on their cultivation and movement; in this vital endeavor, he worked closely with the Mexican Federal Police in the border states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, and Coahuila; and WHEREAS, In 1983, Agent Ramirez transferred to the San Antonio DEA office, where he worked with the San Antonio Narcotics Bureau and the narcotics unit of the San Antonio Police Department; he rejoined the United States Customs Service in 1984 as a member of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force,whichtargetedthesmugglinganddistributionofdrugsand the laundering of their proceeds; he retired in 1995, after more than three decades of skilled and courageous service; and WHEREAS, Vince Ramirez was a trailblazing member of the law enforcement community who made vital contributions to the citizens of Bexar County, the State of Texas, and the United States of America, and he may reflect with great pride on a career well spent; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, hereby commend Vicente Ramirez for his exemplary career in law enforcement and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mr. Ramirez as an expression of high regard by the Texas Senate. Men ndez President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 21, 2019.