HR0243 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0243 LRB098 11684 MST 44283 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Oak Lawn Chief of Police, William V. Villanova Jr., as he retires from his position; and

WHEREAS, William Villanova Jr. began his law enforcement career in 1977 as a patrol officer with the Oak Lawn Police Department; he also served as Evidence Technician and Field Training Officer until transferring to the Detective Division in 1989; he earned the rank of sergeant, was selected to be a team leader of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, and achieved the rank of lieutenant in 2003; in 2004, he was appointed chief of detectives and then chief of police in 2006; and

WHEREAS, William Villanova Jr. has been honored with numerous awards and commendations throughout the years; in 1979, he received the first Department Commendation under the newly developed Oak Lawn Police Awards program; in 1992, he received the Oak Lawn Police John Murdoch Memorial Award as the Police Officer of the Year and in 1997 he received the Cook County Sheriff Law Enforcement Award of Merit and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5220 Police Office of the Year; in 2002, the DEA Administrator awarded him and his tactical/narcotics team with the Administrator's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Drug Law Enforcement for their work in Operation Mountain Express III and most recently in 2012, he was named the Illinois State Crime Commission's Police Chief of the Year; and

WHEREAS, William Villanova Jr. has served on the boards of the Oak Lawn Police Club, the 5th District Chiefs Association, and the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police, including time as president; and

WHEREAS, William Villanova Jr. graduated from Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command in 2000 and attended Lewis University; and

WHEREAS, William Villanova Jr. has been married to his wife, Linda, for 39 years; they have 3 children, Ken (Vennessa), Kate (Sergio), and Chris; and 5 grandchildren, Emily, Erin, Abby, Noah, Nolan; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Oak Lawn Chief of Police, William V. Villanova Jr., as he retires from his position, thank him for his service to the community, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chief William Villanova Jr. as an expression of our esteem and respect.