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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jerry D.
4Bratcher, former police chief of Palatine, who passed away on
5August 20, 2020; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Chief Bratcher was born on August 15, 1934; he
7served in the U.S. Marine Corps, enlisting at the age of 17
8during the Korean War; he was a drill instructor and earned the
9rank of sergeant before he was honorably discharged; he earned
10his bachelor's and master's degrees from Western Illinois
11University; he earned a second master's degree in Public
12Administration from Roosevelt University; he graduated from
13the FBI National Academy and the Southern Police Institute; and
 
14    WHEREAS, After leaving the U.S. Marine Corps, Chief
15Bratcher had a 40-year career in law enforcement; he first
16joined the DeKalb Police Department, where he rose through the
17ranks to captain; he later accepted the chief of police
18position in Rochelle and served there for five years; he then
19became the chief of police in Palatine, where he served for 25
20years; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Chief Jerry Bratcher's tenure as the chief of
22police was marked by the adoption of many innovative policing

 

 

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1techniques, including implementing a local crime prevention
2unit, making the Palatine Police Department the first police
3department to do so in the State of Illinois; under his
4leadership, the department adopted a neighborhood-based
5policing approach and started requiring four-year college
6degrees for new officer hires; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Chief Bratcher was preceded in death by his wife
8of 53 years, Helen; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Chief Bratcher was the loving father of Kim
10O'Brien, Steve (Nancy) Bratcher, and Nicole Sisk; and he was
11the cherished grandfather of 13 grandchildren and 1
12great-granddaughter; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
14HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15we mourn the passing of Jerry D. Bratcher, former police chief
16of Palatine, and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
17friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Chief Bratcher as an expression of
20our deepest sympathy.