HR0533 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0533 LRB103 35968 ECR 66055 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Ninety-four duly elected county coroners, seven duly elected county sheriff-coroners, and one duly appointed county medical examiner, along with their respective staff members, provide medicolegal death investigation services to the people of the State of Illinois and visitors to our state; and

WHEREAS, These medicolegal death investigation professionals are essential to the criminal justice system, public safety, and the public health of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, These medicolegal death investigation professionals diligently perform their duties making inquiry into the manner and cause of an individual's death under physically and emotionally demanding conditions, including, but not limited to, the deaths of children, the current opiate epidemic, the recent COVID-19 pandemic, victims of violence at the hands of another, and a never-ending litany of deaths that occur under harsh, unexpected, and other tragic circumstances; and

WHEREAS, These medicolegal death investigation professionals serve as an advocate for the deceased, give voices to those who have been forever stilled, and strive to seek answers to extremely difficult questions, serving the needs of the survivors left behind and the good of the public welfare; and

WHEREAS, These medicolegal death investigation professionals pursue further training and education through the Illinois Coroner Training Board, the Illinois Coroners and Medical Examiners Association, the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, the National Association of Medical Examiners, and a host of other related organizations to continue their professional development as skilled, qualified, ethical, and knowledgeable investigators, fiercely loyal to the mission they serve that so often goes without recognition or accolade; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the week of January 21 through January 27, 2024 as Medicolegal Death Investigation Professionals Week in honor of the coroners, deputy coroners, medical examiners, support and ancillary staff, forensic pathologists, and medicolegal death investigators for their ongoing commitment of service to the citizens of Illinois and their communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Coroners and Medical Examiners Association as a symbol of our esteem and respect.