Investing in the Future - Scholarship Opportunity

A portion of the proceeds earned by the Texas Polygraph Alliance will automatically be contributed to The Richard D. Hale Memorial Fund for Law Enforcement Ethics, a non-profit organization. The Fund was established to recognize the public safety contributions made by Captain Richard D. Hale of the Laredo, Texas Police Department, who died in the line of duty. The Fund distributes educational scholarships to students who are seeking Criminal Justice careers and that are children of deceased Texas Peace Officers who served in Laredo and Webb County, Texas.

If you wish to donate to the fund separately from the deposit that you are making, please indicate in your comments that you are doing so, and specify the amount that you wish to contribute. The donation will be charged to your credit card.

An Officer, a Gentleman, and a United States Marine
Richard David Hale (de los Santos) was born, raised and lived in Laredo, Texas. His family traces its lineage from County Sligo, Ireland to Monterrey, Mexico in the 1830’s, and then to Laredo in the 1870’s, where they settled as Mexican-Irish immigrants. Hale was born in 1952 and was one of eight siblings who were raised speaking both English and Spanish. The numerous Hale families of Laredo are heavily represented, and continue to serve, in local, state and Federal law enforcement agencies in Texas.

Hale attended J.W. Nixon High School in east Laredo. In 1967 he joined the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and received the Outstanding Cadet of the Year award during his first year of participation in the program. In the years following, he performed as the Right Guard and Solo Rifle of the Nixon Rifles Drill Team. He exceeded the 3-year program obligation and by his 4th-year in the program, he had attained the rank of Cadet Major was a member of the Battalion Staff.

After graduation in 1970, Hale joined the U.S. Marine Corps and underwent flight training in Tennessee. While studying to become an aircrewman, he was also selected to perform in ceremonial functions as a member of the USMC Silent Drill Team. Subsequently, Hale served as a flight engineer aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft attached to squadron VMGR-252. Between 1970 and 1973 Lance Corporal Hale was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, MCAS El Toro, California and in MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. From these bases, he flew numerous missions around the world and into Vietnam, surviving several take-offs and landings under hostile enemy fire, as well a fiery belly-landing of his crippled ship.

Upon being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1974, Hale joined the Laredo Police Department. He served the LPD in many capacities including Patrolman, Internal Affairs Investigator, S.W.A.T. Team Commander and Firearms Instructor. In 1982 he organized a Special Weapons Unit and in 1987 he created the Department’s first Honor Guard Unit. The Unit consisted of the Color Guard, Taps Bugler, Rifle Squad and Funeral Detail. Completing 24 years of service, his last assignment was as Captain-in-Charge of the Patrol Division.

Hale believed in strict adherence to rules, regulations and to the law. His conduct and bearing were representative of his beliefs, and he advanced those same values to the many men and women that he mentored during his life. Hale also valued truth and he maintained an unwavering ethical standard that led him to be admired, respected and feared by his law enforcement colleagues.

Richard David Hale was an Officer, a Gentleman, and a United States Marine. Semper Fi.

Hale was a proponent of continuing education and he steadfastly attended college during his off-duty hours. After years of part-time study, he was about to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice when he perished on August 24, 1998.

The Fund assists students that are aspiring Peace Officers to obtain their college degrees. Applicants will be required to commit to a life of respect, adherence to the truth and to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct. For more information, contact the Fund Administrator, Gary J. Hale at the phone numbers and e-mail address listed on the Texas Polygraph Alliance web-site.