Published : Saturday, 05 May 2012, 7:41 PM CDT

A Ride For Fallen Officers: MyFoxAUSTIN.com

Hundreds of motorcycle riders took over I-35 for a bit Saturday morning as they rode in remembrance of fallen officers.

The 11th annual tribute took on even more of a special meaning as Austin Police Officer, Jaime Padron, and his family were honored.
During a special ceremony at the Fallen Peace Officers Memorial Wall at the State Capitol, Padron’s name was read for roll call.

He is one of 14 Texas peace officers killed in the line of duty in 2011 and so far in 2012.

Their names are now part of the peace officer’s memorial wall.

Padron’s ex wife, Amy and their two daughters, six-year-old, Olivia, and ten-year old, Ariana, were also recognized.

A moment retired police officer, Brian Rix, didn’t want to miss.

“Law enforcement agencies are just out there trying to keep the peace, all across the world, we’re all the same, and you feel it, believe me you feel it when someone goes down.”

Rix is from Australia.

He says he went to great lengths to show his support.

“Myself and my wife, shipped our motorcycles to South America and spent six months riding up to make this ride. We were under a bit of a time frame to get here to be part of this ride. To hear of the officers that you lose in this part of the world, we just had to be part of it.”

Rix is one of hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts who took part in the annual ride for the fallen.

It’s put on by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas or CLEAT.

APD Sgt. Todd Harrison is president of the group.

This year’s ride means more to Harrison since Padron was a good friend.

“Yes it does, as you can see, I’m getting a little teared up right now, he was a friend of mine, a board member on the Austin Police Association so anything you lose a friend, it just makes it that much more poignant.”

On April 6th, Padron was gunned down inside a North Austin Walmart.

He died at the scene.

The killing is still fresh on officers’ minds.

Sgt. Jason Ash is with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.

He once worked with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and worked the same area as Officer Padron did.

“That could have easily been me back in the day.”

So if you were inconvenienced by the hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts on the roadway, Sgt. Harrison says he’s sorry.

“We apologize for any traffic problems and it was only for one day and a short amount of time to remember our brothers and sisters.”

But it’ll happen again next year.

As always, the ride started at the Cowboy Harley Davidson in South Austin.

Read more: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/texas/A-Ride-For-Fallen-Officers-20120505-ktbcw#ixzz1uJAuoYrR

CLEAT was the first statewide law enforcement union in Texas to endorse candidates, first to lobby the state legislature, first to encourage our local affiliates to become politically active and the first to form a Political Action Committee.

The CLEAT political endorsement is free, independent and free from political influence. Since we are the only statewide law enforcement organization to neither accept government grant money or telephone solicitation funds from the public, we are completely unencumbered by threats or promises from campaigning politicians or their handlers.

The CLEAT endorsement process is basic; we endorse the candidates who have a strong record of support and agree to work for the betterment of our members, who are all full time law enforcement personnel. We assist our local associations in weighing their options and making informed decision that will optimize our political endorsements.

We weigh candidate viability by looking at their record on our issues, their campaign message, financial backing and by using scientific polling to look at political trends throughout the state. Ultimately we encourage our local affiliates to make the decisions regarding whom we endorse in open legislative seats, but generally CLEAT adheres to the friendly incumbency rule. An example of when we go with a challenger is when the incumbent has been unfriendly toward our issues, hasn’t done enough to warrant our endorsement or the challenger comes with a strong, local recommendation from officers on the ground in the district.

CLEAT makes every attempt to follow the endorsement of our local affiliates in district races; therefore allowing the local associations to follow the statewide organization in statewide races. These are not hard and fast rules followed to the letter and sometimes local associations diverge and take their own course for local political reasons. Although it’s rare, that is the local prerogative.

You may not see some candidates listed as being endorsed because they do not have an opponent, or some races may have multiple candidates and CLEAT is waiting on the local voters to weed down the field before we endorse in the general election.

In some races, the real campaign is in the general election and it is in CLEAT’s strategic interest to wait to endorse in the Fall. In a few cases you will see us endorse a candidate who isn’t going to win. Again, we are endorsing the person who has either stood tall for law enforcement in the past and we have no qualms in standing with those who stand with us, even when the going gets tough.

Some races may not have an endorsed candidate because CLEAT does not have a strategic interest in the race as it currently stands. In a few races we may have chosen simply not to endorse any candidate because no candidate distinguished themselves as being particularly friendly to our issues.

In other races we may see that both candidates are friendly to our issues but the race is too close to call and CLEAT has no interest in taking sides in a fight between two of our friends.

The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas has a long and proud history of political involvement. All of our decisions are made with the full knowledge of the CLEAT Executive Board, Committee on Public Affairs and our local unions. At every turn, our political decisions are fully vetted by duly elected law enforcement officers at CLEAT. We are the only law enforcement union in Texas to conduct our political business in this manner.

Click here for the endorsement list.

left to right: Representative Sid Miller, Representative Paul Workman and CLEAT's Charley Wilkison

AUSTIN-The annual POMF ‘Ride for the Fallen’ boasted the largest number of bikes and riders to date as officers from across the state gathered to honor their brothers and sisters who have died in the line of duty since the past year.

The event began at the Cowboy Harley dealership in South Austin, stopped for a memorial tribute service at the Texas Peace Officers Memorial monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol and proceeded with a ride through the Texas hill country and ended with a barbeque cook-off at Cindy’s Hog Wild near Manor.

The motorcycles were escorted on a closed north bound Interstate 35 by the Austin Police Department motors division on their drive to the Capitol complex.

The Travis County Sheriff Honor Guard Presentation of Colors

At the tribute service conducted at the wall the officers witnessed the Travis County Sheriff’s Color Guard with their presentation of the colors at the wall. State Representative Paul Workman R-Austin read the names of the fallen. Click Here to See the Names of the Fallen

The Gunslingers, a police officer motorcycle club from Austin, solemnly laid a wreath in honor of their fallen comrade Jaime Padron.

The traditional prayer at the wall was led by Travis County Sheriff Gregg Hamilton D-Austin. Click Here to Read the Prayer

The keynote address was given by Rep. Sid Miller R-Stephenville, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security and public Safety. Click Here to Read Highlights of the Speech

The final salute came from Austin Police Department bagpiper David Crowder as he performed the traditional police rendition of ‘Amazing Grace.’

“The annual Ride for the Fallen was a great success,” said CLEAT President Sgt. Todd Harrison, “We raised the most money for the foundation and the tribute at the wall was one of the most memorable that I’ve witnessed as an officer and CLEAT member.”

Those wanting to see the official wreath, photos of the Ride for the Fallen, and the barbeque cook-off may peruse the photos at the shutterfly website, as well as download or purchase their favorite photographs by going here http://pomfride.shutterfly.com/

left to right: Congressman Ted Poe, Representative Dan Huberty and CLEAT's Chris Jones

CLEAT’s Chris Jones presented Representative Dan Huberty (R-Kingwood) CLEAT’s “Best of the House” Legislative Award for the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature. The presentation was made at the North Harris County Criminal Justice Association Breakfast in Humble, Texas.

Investigator VI (Job Posting #12-127)
http://www.tdi.texas.gov/jobs/postings/job12127.html

All applicants must include the official State of Texas Job Application along with any other required documentation. Complete job listings and application instructions are available at:

http://www.tdi.texas.gov/jobs/jobs.html

For questions about this job posting, please contact HR Specialist, Anna Valadez, PHR (512-305-7634.)

Applicants may email (humanresources@tdi.state.tx.us) or fax their complete State of Texas Application to Human Resources at (512) 475-1864.

Mr. Jopling, CLEAT Staff Attorney:

I thank you kind sir…for settling the firearm qualification disagreement between me and my sergeant.
We are a couple of old buzzards that tend to be very hard-headed with each other. You have saved us
additional & NEEDLESS wailing and gnashing of teeth. I can hardly wait to show him your ruling results
after my days off.

I also enjoy riding a Harley Davidson in my “other” life. CLEAT, more or less has the philosophy of us Harley riders:
“We may have to back up, but we NEVER back down”. This is why I am always proud to sport a CLEAT sticker on the lower
left portion of the windshield on my 2011 Harley Heritage Softail the day after I purchased it a little more than a year ago.

Cpl. Joe Don Smith
TSTC Police / Sweetwater, TX

La Marque proposition sparks concern among some

Erik Barajas

LA MARQUE, TX (KTRK) — A proposition in La Marque has some worried there will be fewer police officers on the streets. But that city’s elected officials say that won’t be the case and the worries are unfounded. The proposition specifically deals with the number of officers for the department.

Currently, the city charter of La Marque requires a minimum of 25 officers on the payroll. But a new proposition aims to drop that requirement and some feel it’s a move to eventually reduce the numbers of officers in La Marque.

Early voting for La Marque”s May 12 election is underway, but the sign gaining the most attention in front of City Hall is that of Proposition 21.

“It’s absolutely just a public safety issue,” La Marque Police Association President Forrest Gandy said.

“To me, that’s just a scare tactic and it bothers me,” La Marque Councilwoman Connie Trube said.

Prop 21 would do away with a city ordinance, requiring a minimum of 25 officers on staff at the police department. The amendment was added in 1998 to silence a movement to disband the police department and contract with the sheriff’s office.

And the concern is voting yes for Prop 21 would be the first step for the movement to resurface.

“Absolutely yea, and that’s why it’s such a big concern for us. Because it’s important to keep adequate police staffing for our own safety but most importantly for the safety of citizens,” Gandy said.

Trube says there has been no talk of reducing officers and approves of Proposition 21. She says it simply allows the council flexibility.

“The thing about voting yes would be, in case La Marque’s population would drop 5,000 or 10,000, that would still require citizens to have 25 police officers and that could be a huge burden on the budget and the tax base,” Trube said.

Prop 21 was added to the ballot by a charter review committee; its members appointed are by council.

Committee members claims it’s simply a house-cleaning measure to remove an outdated amendment from the city charter.

“I don’t think it’s ever dangerous to put anything before the voters. We are of the people, by the people, for the people. They have the final say. And people are smart, they know what to do,” La Marque Mayor Bobby Hawking said.

Currently, 29 officers are on staff, which Gandy says is still below state recommendations. Early voting began Monday, with the election day taking place May 12.

Annual Austin Motorcyle Rally and Tribute to Fallen Law Enforcement Officers to be Held on May 5th
The Peace Officers Memorial Foundation (POMF), founded by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) is hosting its 11th annual Ride for the Fallen on Saturday, May 5th.

The Ride for the Fallen is a motorcycle ride that is open to both peace officers and the general public. Every year, hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts come together to honor Texas peace officers who have died in the line of duty. This year, the ride will start at Cowboy Harley Davidson on I-35 south at 10:00 am, and its first stop will be at the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Wall on the northeast side of the Capitol complex. A ceremony at the wall will follow at 11:00am. Following the ceremony will be several stops for the motorcycle rider as they ride through the Texas hill country along with a BBQ cook-off at Cindy’s Hog Wild as well as a motorcycle raffle.

Several elected officials participating in the ceremony at the wall this year will be State Representative Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, who is the Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety, State Representative Paul Workman, R-Austin and Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton.

“We must never forget those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while keeping our communities safe,” said Sergeant Todd Harrison, President of CLEAT. “Every one of these officers has left behind loved ones, and it is important that we keep their memories alive,” he said.

For more information on the Ride or the Memorial Wall, please visit www.pomf.org.