HJ0147 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0147 LRB099 21628 MST 48087 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is appropriate for us to remember the many sacrifices and contributions to the betterment of Illinois made by the outstanding men and women who have served in law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, The Springfield Police Department was formed in 1840; since that time, ten officers have been killed in the line of duty, including David R. Tapscott, who died on December 26, 1979; and

WHEREAS, David Tapscott was born in Liberty, Kentucky in 1951 to George and Nettie Tapscott; he had four brothers and three sisters; and

WHEREAS, David Tapscott's family moved to Pleasant Plains, where he graduated from high school in 1969; while in high school, he excelled in basketball and track; after graduation, he worked at his brother's garage and attended Lincoln Land Community College; and

WHEREAS, At the age of 23, David Tapscott took the police department civil service exam, and in 1974, he became a proud member of the Springfield Police Department; and

WHEREAS, David Tapscott loved his profession and he excelled at his work; he exemplified the true meaning of a dedicated police officer; and

WHEREAS, David Tapscott graciously and compassionately served the citizens of Springfield; he was well-liked by his fellow officers as well as the public; he worked the Second Watch during which he enjoyed driving the prisoner transport van; and

WHEREAS, Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, 1979 was a cold, wet, rainy evening; David Tapscott planned on spending Christmas Day at his mother's home before heading to work; and

WHEREAS, Around 10:00 p.m. that night, David Tapscott responded without hesitation to a disturbance call at a north end Springfield tavern; and

WHEREAS, David Tapscott proceeded north on 9th Street behind a sheriff's deputy who was also responding to the call; he crossed Converse Street and headed down the hill toward the 9th Street railroad underpass; and

WHEREAS, The deputy in front of David Tapscott drove left of the center barrier to get around a vehicle on the right; David Tapscott began to follow, then realized the vehicle had stopped allowing him time to pass it and pull back into the right northbound lane; and

WHEREAS, The lightweight prisoner transport van did not maneuver as well on wet surfaces and as David Tapscott approached the viaduct he was unable to move quickly enough to his right before hitting the center barrier head on; and

WHEREAS, David Tapscott was injured and was transported to St. John's Hospital by ambulance; and

WHEREAS, On Wednesday evening at 6:31 p.m., December 26, 1979, Officer David Tapscott passed away; and

WHEREAS, Officer David Tapscott was buried at Peter Cartwright Cemetery in Pleasant Plains on Saturday December 29, 1979; the police van number, LSS was retired after the accident and has not been used since; he was mourned by the entire community, even those who had never met him; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of 9th Street between the intersection of East Converse Street and East Ridgely Street in Springfield as the "Officer David Tapscott Memorial Street"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "Officer David Tapscott Memorial Street"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Officer David Tapscott, the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Springfield Police Department, and the Mayor of Springfield.