Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0450

HR0450 LRB104 15146 ECR 28290 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers are crucial to the State of Illinois and the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, There are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers currently serving in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers in service of the United States risk their own lives to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of American citizens and residents; and

WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers are disciplined, passionate, and dedicated to their duties, and the majority of Americans have a high level of confidence in these officers, especially in their local communities; and

WHEREAS, As of 2021, there are more than 30,000 law enforcement officers serving in the State of Illinois, risking their lives in combating crimes and ensuring the safety of Illinoisans; and

WHEREAS, The Officer Down Memorial Page has reported more than 1,190 law enforcement line-of-duty deaths in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers work tirelessly with legislators, community groups, and other relevant stakeholders to lower crime rates in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The rate of crime against law enforcement officers has become increasingly alarming; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that more than 79,000 law enforcement officers were assaulted nationwide in 2023, which is the highest officer assault rate in the past ten years; and

WHEREAS, Most officer assaults occurred when responding to simple assaults against a non-officer and narcotics violations; and

WHEREAS, The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently ranked law enforcement as one of the ten most dangerous occupations in the United States, specifically for correctional and police officers; and

WHEREAS, The high risk associated with law enforcement careers negatively impacts law enforcement officers' personal lives and their families; and

WHEREAS, Studies reveal that law enforcement officers experience depression at nearly double the rate of the general population, with 12% of police officers reporting depression compared to 6.8% by the rest of the population; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois reported a 65% increase in resignations and a 7% increase in the rate of retirement from law enforcement jobs from the normal average per year from 2020 to 2021; and

WHEREAS, Many police departments in the State of Illinois have reported a 40% to 70% decrease in the rate of applicants taking the entrance examination; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has been ranked the third best state to be a police officer based on pay scale, favorable training requirements, and job hazards and protections; and

WHEREAS, Encouraging and supporting law enforcement officers is important in order to ensure the effective discharge of their duties in protecting the lives and properties of Illinoisans; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the impacts and immense contributions of law enforcement officers in ensuring safety in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the State of Illinois to support law enforcement officers by providing the training, funding, equipment, and resources required for them to effectively discharge their duties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the State of Illinois to take adequate measures to ensure the safety of law enforcement officers as they discharge their duties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Illinois State Police as a symbol of our esteem and respect.