SR2261 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2261 LRB099 23419 GRL 50884 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Joseph Mendrick, who passed away on September 5, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mendrick was born in Chicago and raised in Cicero, where he graduated from Morton High School East; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mendrick served in the United States Army as a military police officer from 1965 to 1966; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mendrick earned an associate's degree from Triton College and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Aurora University; he also received a diploma in traffic police administration from Northwestern University and was a graduate of the FBI law enforcement executive training session in Quantico, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mendrick began his 35-year career with the Oak Park Police Department in 1967 as a patrol officer; in the 1970s, he became a detective and earned several promotions before serving twice as acting chief in the 1980s; as he rose through the ranks, he saw how the lack of diversity within the department made policing a diverse community more difficult; after becoming police chief in 1991, he launched community policing in the village, brought police officers into the west suburb's schools for the first time, and made his force more racially diverse; he retired as chief in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mendrick is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nanette; his sons, Bill and James Joseph; his brother, Edward; and five grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Joseph Mendrick; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Joseph Mendrick as an expression of our sympathy.