SR0221 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0221 LRB104 13119 LAW 25223 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to congratulate James of O'Shea on the occasion of his retirement as Police Chief of the River Forest Police Department (RFPD); and

WHEREAS, Chief O'Shea, an Oak Park native, graduated from Fenwick High School in 1986; he earned his Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Psychology from Illinois State University and his Master of Science in Public Safety Administration; he is also a graduate of the Supervision of Police Personnel, the School of Police Staff & Command, and the Executive Management programs at the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety (NUCPS); and

WHEREAS, Chief O'Shea began his law enforcement career with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1991; he joined the RFPD as a patrol officer in 1995, where he proceeded to serve as a detective, detective unit supervisor, patrol sergeant, patrol division commander, and deputy chief before being appointed police chief in January 2018, becoming only the second RFPD officer to be internally chosen as police chief in the last four decades; and

WHEREAS, Chief O'Shea has been credited with implementing the core pillars of modern policing initiatives into the RFPD in addition to the first Officer Peer Support Program, the Officer Wellness Room, and the village's quarterly Community Safety Meetings to ensure that the RFPD remains connected to the community it serves; he has also introduced systems and other modern tools in order for officers to avoid depending on using lethal force or hands-on tactics when dealing with violent or aggressive offenders, and he has overseen vital police station improvements and the department's utilization of the latest police technology, including license plate readers, a village-wide street camera system, body worn cameras, updated in-car mobile cameras, and a variety of chase mitigation technologies; and

WHEREAS, Chief O'Shea, over the course of his tenure, has played a major role in assisting River Forest as the village and its residents navigated through the global COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, national police reform, and industry-wide staffing shortages; to counter the latter, he increased training and professional development for officers, improved recruitment and retention efforts, and initiated the first Lateral Hiring Program, mentoring the RFPD staff to promote internal advancement and succession; and

WHEREAS, Chief O'Shea, through his dedicated efforts, has developed a team of talented police officers and staff who have served the residents of River Forest with honor, respect, compassion, and commitment, all while collaborating diligently with the River Forest Village Board, community leaders and advocates, and stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, Chief O'Shea has further served his community by giving his time and skills to various organizations, and he currently serves as executive chair of the West Suburban Directed Gang Task Force and on the Triton College Law Enforcement Advisory Committee; he formerly served as an appointed member of the Village of Westchester Board of Fire and Police Commission, as an elected member of the River Forest Police Pension Fund, and on the executive boards of the West Suburban Juvenile Officers Association, the West Suburban Detectives Association, and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 46; and

WHEREAS, Chief O'Shea has received a number of accolades during his 34-year law enforcement career, including the Illinois Bar Association's Law Enforcement Award, the Thrive Counseling Center's Partners in Service Award, and the NUCPS Executive Leadership Award; and

WHEREAS, Chief O'Shea will officially retire from the RFPD on April 30, 2025; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate James O'Shea on his retirement as Police Chief of the River Forest Police Department (RFPD), and we thank him for his 30 years of service and dedication to the Village of River Forest; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chief O'Shea as an expression of our esteem and respect.