HR0349

LRB094 12115 CSA 45427 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, Officer Steven Zourkas, a five-year veteran of the 
3
Niles Police Department, died April 8, 2005, in the line of 
4
duty while responding to a call; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, He was born July 18, 1971, and joined the Niles 
6
Police Department on May 7, 2001; he was well-liked and 
7
respected by his fellow employees and his peers, and he was a 
8
hard worker who was dedicated to the police department and the 
9
work it entailed; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, His many accolades during his career with the 
11
Niles Police Department include a Distinguished Duty Award 
12
presented on April 23, 2002, for administering CPR to a Niles 
13
resident; he was the first responder to the scene and found the 
14
victim in cardiac arrest; and

 
15
    WHEREAS, In 2003 and 2004, Officer Zourkas received 
16
recognition from the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists 
17
for being a lead officer in the number of DUI's written in the 
18
Village of Niles; and

 
19
    WHEREAS, On March 22, 2005, he received a Department 
20
Commendation for an arrest he made while on patrol; he observed 
21
a suspicious vehicle parked near two tow trucks; the offender 
22
had just robbed the trucks and was responsible for another 
23
burglary being investigated by another police department; and

 
24
    WHEREAS, Along with being trained in Breath Alcohol Testing 
25
and Unified Statewide Anti-Terrorism, Officer Zourkas was an 
26
evidence technician with the Niles Police Department and a 
27
forensic specialist with the North Regional Major Crimes Task 
28
Force; and

 
29
    WHEREAS, He was a highly regarded police officer; in 
 


 






HR0349
- 2 -
LRB094 12115 CSA 45427 r




1
addition to these highlights, there are many letters and memos 
2
from citizens and commanding officers praising his 
3
thoroughness, kindness, and good work; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, Officer Zourkas always had a smile and was proud 
5
of his family and his job; the people who knew him, especially 
6
his friends and fellow officers on the midnight shift, will 
7
miss him; and

 
8
    WHEREAS, He is survived by his wife, Ivy, and sons, John 
9
and Andrew; therefore, be it

 
10
    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
11
NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
12
we express our deepest regret at the passing of Niles police 
13
officer Steven Zourkas and extend to his family, friends, and 
14
the Niles Police Department our most sincere condolences; and 
15
be it further

 
16
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17
presented to his family as an expression of our utmost 
18
sympathy.