HR0044 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0044 LRB097 09807 GRL 49956 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dan Palmer on the occasion of his retirement as Chief of the Bartlett Police Department; and

WHEREAS, Dan Palmer began his career with the Bartlett Police Department on November 6, 1979; he was subsequently promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1984, followed by a promotion to the rank of lieutenant in 1987; after being named the acting Chief of the force in 1993, he was selected to serve as Chief of the Bartlett Police Department on April 14, 1994; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure as Chief, Dan Palmer has been instrumental in the creation of numerous community programs, including The National Night Out Program, the expansion of the Neighborhood Watch program, the Middle School and High School Officer programs, the Operation Safe School full-scale emergency exercise, the creation of the Citizen Star award, the child safety seat lending program, the Cop-on-the-corner program, the department's first basketball fundraiser, and the department's bike helmet program; and

WHEREAS, Under Chief Palmer, the Bartlett Police Department was initially accredited and received re-accreditation four times; he also made numerous effective changes within the Police Department, including the creation of a Mission and Vision Statement for the department, 12-hour patrol shifts, the department's New Directed Patrol unit and Traffic Unit, in-car computerized report writing, a new Records Management System, the formation of the Specialized Police Emergency Action Response Team, the creation of the Bartlett Police Department flag, the formation of the Elderly Services Team, the creation of the Planning and Research Unit and the Special Operations Section, and the creation of the department's first and second K9 Units; and

WHEREAS, The City of Bartlett witnessed a decline in the crime rate and an increase in DUI arrests during Chief Palmer's tenure, a testament to his effectiveness and law enforcement acumen; and

WHEREAS, Under Chief Palmer's leadership, the Bartlett Police Department has received numerous accolades and re-accreditations, including the Governor's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement Training and the first place designation of the National Night Out program; he also worked diligently to get the department a Flagship Agency designation twice; and

WHEREAS, Chief Palmer is well known among his peers for his great dedication to his family, which includes his wife, Lori Palmer, and his children, Abbi, Brett, and Lisa; he has been the family sports schedule organizer over the years and has planned many memorable vacations for his family to Yellowstone National Park, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Washington D.C., and Alaska; and

WHEREAS, Dan Palmer serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dan Palmer on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dan Palmer as a symbol of our esteem and respect.