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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 Chicago
4police officer Aréanah Preston, who was killed in the line of
5duty on May 6, 2023; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was born on June 7, 1998; she
7attended high school at UIC College Prep; she graduated from
8Illinois State University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in
9criminal justice and law enforcement administration, where she
10was a member of the National Association of Colored Women's
11Club; she earned a Master of Jurisprudence from the Loyola
12University Chicago School of Law and was set to walk the stage
13on May 13, 2023; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston spent three years with the
15Chicago Police Department and was assigned to the 5th
16District, which includes the Roseland, Pullman, West Pullman,
17and Altgeld Gardens communities; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Since childhood, Aréanah Preston wanted to be a
19police officer; she was dedicated to making a difference to
20show young people that law enforcement could have a strong
21positive impact in every community; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, After Illinois State University's inaugural
2Social Justice: Trip Through Genocide experience, Aréanah
3Preston was troubled by the underrepresentation of minorities
4in law enforcement and by too many incidents of police
5brutality claiming the lives of unarmed people of color; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Based on what Aréanah Preston experienced on this
7trip, she turned contemplation into action by entering the
8academy for the Chicago Police Department with the goal of
9building trust between law enforcement and underrepresented
10communities; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was quoted after this trip,
12saying "I know a big thing for our trip was finding voices for
13those who didn't have a voice. When I got back, I wanted to be
14an officer. I felt like could be a person to fight for justice.
15I wish everyday that I could go back. I had ideas but didn't
16know how to vocalize them. The trip made me a stronger
17person."; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston will be remembered as an
19uplifting, courageous, and intelligent young woman with
20unlimited potential; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston is survived by her mother, her
22father, her younger twin sisters, and numerous extended family

 

 

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1members and friends; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we mourn the passing of Chicago police officer Aréanah Preston
5and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and
6all who knew and loved her; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
8presented to the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Lt.
9Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Mayor and Mayor-Elect
10of the City of Chicago, the Chief of the Chicago Police
11Department, and the family of Aréanah Preston as an expression
12of our deepest sympathy.