HJ0001 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0001 LRB100 05231 MST 15551 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are honored to pay tribute to those who have given their lives to protect and serve the citizens of this great nation; and

WHEREAS, On October 6, 2016, Officer Blake Snyder, a four-year veteran of the St. Louis County Police Department was killed in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, Officer Snyder was a lifelong resident of Madison County, living mostly in Godfrey; he graduated from Alton High School in 2001, and received degrees from Lewis and Clark Community College and Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Missouri; and

WHEREAS, Officer Snyder was an active member of his community; he served as Creative Director and as a graphic designer for the Destiny Church; he served on the Board of Directors for Riverbend Family Ministries and spent time employed with the Village of Godfrey Parks and Recreation Department; and

WHEREAS, Officer Snyder joined the St. Louis County Police Department in July of 2012, following in the footsteps of his father-in-law who had been a member of the Granite City Police; and

WHEREAS, Officer Snyder brought with him to the St. Louis County Police Department a particular talent for conducting Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests; and

WHEREAS, A former co-worker said this of Officer Snyder's work, "His reports were pristine", and "He could never be beat in court, and defense attorneys knew that"; and

WHEREAS, On October 6, 2016, Officer Snyder was called to action in response to a complaint of disturbing the peace in Green Park, Missouri; he was shot and killed by the perpetrator of the disturbance; and

WHEREAS, Officer Snyder is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Snyder; his son, Malachi Snyder; his parents, Richard and Peggy Snyder; his brother, Adam Snyder; and his half-brother, Scott Harrold; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Illinois Route 100 beginning at the northwest city limits of Godfrey and ending at the southeast city limits as the "Officer Blake Snyder Memorial Highway"; and be it further

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

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Officer Snyder and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.