HR1114 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1114 LRB100 22097 MST 40481 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A 14-year veteran of the Dixon Police Department, Mark Dallas, has worked as a School Resource Officer for Dixon Public Schools for five years; and

WHEREAS, During the final days of the 2018 spring term, on Wednesday, May 16, a gunman entered Dixon High School and fired shots; and

WHEREAS, In the words of Dixon Police Chief Steven Howell Jr., "With shots ringing out through the hallways of the school, he [Dallas] charged towards the suspect and confronted him, head on."; and

WHEREAS, The prompt action of Officer Mark Dallas disarmed the gunman, made it possible for him to arrest the gunman and take him into custody, and led to a successful conclusion of the incident; Lee County Sheriff John Simonton responded to a description of Mark Dallas's bravery with the words "He saved an enormous amount of lives."; and

WHEREAS, During the incident, educators and students at Dixon High School took proper action to lock down their high school; their lockdown was followed by a prompt and calm evacuation of the building and grounds; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend the educators and students of Dixon High School for their calm responses during the incident of May 16, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend School Resource Officer Mark Dallas for his heroic service at Dixon High School on May 16, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend Mark Dallas's former and current fellow members of the public safety services of Illinois, including the professionals who develop and maintain the police training infrastructure of this State, in mind of the fact that incident outcomes like these are the result of the careful, professional training that is the making of a true police officer; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Officer Mark Dallas and to Dixon High School Principal Dr. Michael Grady.