HR1308 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1308 LRB098 23108 GRL 62084 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to honor Kane County Sheriff Patrick Perez for his many decades of dedicated service to his community as he prepares for his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez is a lifelong resident of Kane County; he comes from a law enforcement and public safety family with more than 80 years of experience, including his late father, Pete Perez, who served as an Aurora police officer and as Kane County Undersheriff; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez joined the Kane County Sheriff's Office in 1992; throughout the years, he achieved the rank of Sergeant while serving as Supervisor of the Special Operations Unit, member of the Gang and Drug Enforcement Unit, Supervisor of Patrol Division, Supervisor of the Investigations Division, Supervisor of the Civil Division, and member of the Illinois Attorney General's Gang Task Force; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez was involved in a joint FBI-Kane County 1,250-pound marijuana bust, the largest in the Department's history; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez was sworn in as Kane County Sheriff on December 1, 2006; he was subsequently re-elected to the position in 2010; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez raised accountability in the Kane County Jail, reduced lawsuits against personnel and the Department, and expanded outreach services; he established mandatory random drug testing for deputies, redeployed personnel to place more deputies on the street, and expanded community policing and outreach to the community; he also established a full time crime analyst, resulting in a much more proactive approach to law enforcement and reduction in crime; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez successfully spearheaded the move of the Sheriff's Office and Jail in August of 2008, including 511 inmates, without incident; this effort also involved 320 employees being relocated without interruption of service to the public; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez is a 2007 graduate of the Southern Police Institute Chief Executive Leadership class; he is also a member of the National Sheriffs' Institute Class of 2007; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez was nominated for the Kane County Officer of the Year award in 1998; he has received 2 Meritorious Service Awards, a Leadership Award, and a Life Saving Award; in 2008, he received the statewide Hector Jordan Lifetime Achievement Award; in 2014, he was awarded the Pat Valdez Award in honor of his exceptional service in the support and promotion of the Kane County Sheriff's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #14; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez is a past coach, co-founder, and board member of Aurora Superstars Youth Tackle Football, now in its 15th year; the league provides guidance for youths ages 8 through 12 and has grown from 200 to nearly 400 participants; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez served as Co-Chairman of the CASA Kane County Advisory Committee, fundraising co-chair for Fox Valley United Way, and was appointed to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Board; he founded the Sheriff's Annual Car and Motorcycle Show, raising over $80,000 for various charities; he is also involved with Easter Seals, Disabled American Veterans, the Daniel P. Figgins Memorial Foundation, CASA, Special Olympics Illinois, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, the Fox Valley United Way, and Make-A-Wish Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Sheriff Patrick Perez and his wife, Terrie, are the parents of Stephan and Gabe and the grandparents of Bentlee; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor and congratulate Kane County Sheriff Patrick Perez for his service and achievements on behalf of the residents of Kane County and wish him a long and happy retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Sheriff Patrick Perez as an expression of our esteem and respect.