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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to honor those who risk their lives 
4to protect and serve the people of this State; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, At 5:08 AM on January 7, 2015, Harwood Heights 
6Police Department Officer Ryan Swartzendruber, along with 
7members of the Harwood Heights Police Department, the Norridge 
8Police Department, the Norwood Park Fire Department, the 
9Elmwood Park Fire Department, and the River Grove Fire 
10Department, responded to a house fire at 7911 West Gunnison 
11Street in Norridge; while traveling to the scene of the fire, 
12the responders were notified that there were trapped victims in 
13the home; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Ryan 
15Swartzendruber and the other responders found fire coming out 
16of windows on 2 sides of the building and heavy smoke on the 
17first and second floors; the responders immediately began 
18searching for victims, eventually finding several victims 
19hanging out of windows on the 2nd floor; all available crew 
20members were then called to the rear of the house with ground 
21ladders; and
  
 
22    WHEREAS, Working as a team, the responders were able to 
 
 
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1successfully ladder the building and assist victims onto the 
2ladders and down to safety; the victims were handed over to 
3Emergency Medical Services crews to check for injuries or smoke 
4inhalation; the victims were subsequently  transported to local 
5hospitals and were released later that afternoon; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, After the victims were removed from the building, 
7the responders began to attack the fire with multiple hose 
8lines and elevated master streams; after several hours, the 
9fire was successfully controlled; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Officer Ryan Swartzendruber serves as a model of 
11hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the 
12State of Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
14NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
15honor Harwood Heights Police Department Officer Ryan 
16Swartzendruber for his work and wish him continued success in 
17the future; and be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to Officer Ryan Swartzendruber as a symbol of our 
20esteem and respect.