TITLE: In memory of Deputy Darren Almendarez of the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

SUMMARY: In memory of Deputy Darren Almendarez of the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Deputy Darren Almendarez of the Harris County Sheriff's Office was killed on March 31, 2022, at the age of 51, and his untimely passing was a tragic loss to his family, to his agency, and to his community; and WHEREAS, Darren Almendarez was born on August 15, 1970, to Abraham Almendarez Sr. and Mary Helen Martinez, and he enjoyed the companionship of his nine siblings; a graduate of Austin High School, he continued his education at Houston Community College and San Jacinto College; and WHEREAS, In 1999, Mr. Almendarez graduated from the Harris County Sheriff's Office Police Academy; he subsequently embarked on an outstanding 23-year career with the HCSO, initially working as a District 3 patrol officer and as a field training officer; a certified instructor and master peace officer, he went on to serve as an investigator for the Multi-Agency Gang Task Force and the Auto Theft Task Force; over the course of his tenure with the agency, he made a special effort to support victims and to help people in need; and WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Deputy Almendarez benefited from the love and support of his wife, Flor, and he took great pride in his three children, Andrea, Kayla, and Danny; he also adored his pets, Nico, Bambi, Dale, Pippa, Stella, and Petunia; an avid football fan, he rooted for the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys, and he enjoyed pursuing his passions for saltwater fishing, traveling, barbecuing, and woodworking; and WHEREAS, Embodying the highest ideals of the law enforcement profession, Deputy Darren Almendarez served his community and his state with compassion, integrity, and honor, and although he is gone, his dedication and sacrifice will never be forgotten; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Deputy Darren Almendarez and extend profound condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Flor M. Zarzoza Almendarez; to his daughters, Andrea Almendarez and Kayla Rios; to his son, Danny Rios; to his mother, Mary Helen Martinez; to his siblings; and to all others who mourn his passing; 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 Deputy Darren Almendarez. Walle Hull Leach Phelan Guerra Murr Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allison Harless Noble Anch a Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Ashby Harrison Orr Bailes Hayes Ortega Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bernal Herrero Perez Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bonnen Holland Price Bowers Howard Ramos Bryant Hull Raney Buckley Hunter Raymond Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Canales Kacal Schofield Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Cole Kitzman Shine Collier Klick Slaton Cook Kuempel Slawson Cortez Lalani Smith Craddick Lambert Smithee Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Darby Leach Stucky Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Dean Longoria Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dutton Lozano Thimesch Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Gates Meyer Turner Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Geren Moody Vasut Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle Gonz lez of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson Gonz lez of El Paso Morrison Wu Goodwin Mu oz, Jr. Zwiener Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 868 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 30, 2023. Chief Clerk of the House