As Texas Governor Greg Abbott gave his State of the State Address on Monday, February 1, 2021, he announced his decision to bring the Damon Allen Act back as an Emergency item during the 2021 legislative session.
Trooper Damon Allen was brutally murdered in Freestone County on Thanksgiving Day 2017, shocking not only the county residents, but many across the State of Texas.
Allen had pulled over alleged murder Dabrett Black in a routine traffic stop when Black followed Allen back to his car and allegedly killed him.
Black was out on a $15,000 bond on charges of evading arrest and aggravated assault on a public servant, and reckless driving. The public servant was a Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy.
Abbott expressed that in order, “To fix our flawed bail system and keep dangerous criminals off our streets, I am making the Damon Allen Act an emergency item this session.”
The Damon Allen Act is a set of proposals, which initially failed to be passed in 2019, that ask for a reformation to the bail system to further protect the state’s officers.
“Trooper Allen will forever be a hero of the State of Texas for his selfless dedication and sacrifice,” states Director Steven McCraw, Texas Department of Public Safety. “On behalf of his many brothers and sisters in law enforcement, I would like to thank Governor Greg Abbott for honoring Damon Allen’s memory by taking action to keep dangerous criminals out of our communities.”
