HR0718 LRB096 15274 GRL 30462 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to honor the policemen and firemen
4 who risk their lives in the line of duty; and
 
5     WHEREAS, On October 19, 2009, Oswego police officers were
6 the first responders to a fire in Oswego's Winding Waters
7 subdivision; upon arrival, the officers found the front of the
8 townhome fully engulfed in flames and heard people screaming
9 for help from a balcony in the townhome's rear; upon reaching
10 the townhome's rear, the officers saw Darrin and Amy Smith on
11 the balcony, along with their 3 children; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Knowing that time was short, Sergeant Brad Delphey
13 retrieved a collapsible ladder from his squad car and took it
14 to the rear of the townhome; Officer Ryan Melhouse then climbed
15 the ladder to the balcony and handed the children to Sgt.
16 Delphey and Officer Matt Fleming; shortly afterwards, Darrin
17 and Amy Smith climbed down the ladder with assistance from
18 Officer Melhouse; the officers' teamwork and training enabled
19 them to save the Smith family from the balcony within 4 minutes
20 after receiving the dispatch; and
 
21     WHEREAS, After rescuing the family from the townhome, the
22 officers checked the adjoining residences to determine if

 

 

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1 anyone else was in the townhome; the officers then assisted one
2 elderly resident from the building; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Sergeant Delphey, Officer Melhouse, and Officer
4 Fleming were ably assisted on the scene by Officer Ben Hackl,
5 Officer Brandon Dilg, and Officer David Canon; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Within minutes of the dispatch, personnel from all
7 4 of the Oswego Fire Department's stations responded to the
8 call and extinguished the fire in the townhome; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The officers and firemen who risked their lives to
10 save the Smith family serve as models of hard work, integrity,
11 and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois;
12 therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15 honor the members of the Oswego Police Department and Oswego
16 Fire Department who rescued the Smith family and commend them
17 for their courage and dedication in the face of danger; and be
18 it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to Sergeant Brad Delphey, Officer Ryan Melhouse,
21 Officer Matt Fleming, Officer Ben Hackl, Officer Brandon Dilg,

 

 

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1 Officer David Canon, and Oswego Fire Chief Brad Smith as a
2 symbol of our esteem and respect.