HR0384 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0384 LRB099 11705 MST 34345 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Justice, there are over one million full-time law enforcement officers serving in communities throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Over 50,000 of those officers serve the residents of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Police officers have honorably chosen an occupation the demands of which include nobly and selflessly assuming risks and suffering inconveniences on behalf of strangers; and

WHEREAS, Every police officer reports for duty each day knowing that he or she could be confronted with life-threatening danger, but still they faithfully serve their communities in order to protect the lives, defend the civil liberties, and secure the safety of their fellow citizens; and

WHEREAS, Since 1791, there have been over 22,000 police officers killed in the line of duty throughout the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, More than 1,000 of those officers killed in the line of duty have been Illinois police officers; and

WHEREAS, Thanks in large part to the vigilance and dedication of Illinois police officers, the occurrence of violent crime in Illinois has declined precipitously over the past 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Illinois State elected officials, before taking office, swear or affirm an oath to support the Constitutions of the State of Illinois and the United States, including fulfilling the constitutional purposes of providing for the health, safety, and welfare of the people and insuring domestic tranquility; this oath would be impossible to keep without the courage and sacrifice of Illinois police officers; and

WHEREAS, The bravery of all law enforcement officers who have stood to protect the residents of their communities shall never be forgotten; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois' debt to those officers who have given their lives in the line of duty can never be adequately repaid; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we pay tribute to all law enforcement officers of the United States and the State of Illinois, and thank them for the risks they assume on our behalf each day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we solemnly mourn the loss of those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.