HR0936 LRB095 18880 GRL 45023 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate Joliet police
4 officer Richard Trafton on the occasion of being the recipient
5 of the Exchange Club of Joliet's Police Officer of the Year
6 award; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Officer Richard Trafton is a 13-year veteran with
8 the Joliet Police Department; and
 
9     WHEREAS, On the date of June 14, 2007, Joliet Police
10 Officer Michael Sheridan was approached by an individual who
11 stated that another subject had stabbed him and attempted to
12 stab his baby in a nearby apartment building; Officer Richard
13 Trafton, along with Officers Smyth and Sova, arrived as backup
14 for Officer Sheridan; Officers Trafton, Sheridan, and Smyth
15 entered the front of the apartment building while Officer Sova
16 secured the rear of the building; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Upon entering the building, Officers Trafton,
18 Sheridan, and Smyth found the subject squatting on a second
19 floor landing with his hands not visible; after Officer
20 Sheridan ordered the subject to show his hands, the subject
21 rose to his feet and shuffled toward Officer Sheridan, stabbing
22 him twice with a concealed knife he was carrying; Officer

 

 

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1 Trafton, in a act of extreme bravery, pulled Officer Sheridan
2 away from the subject and fired one round at the subject; after
3 handing Officer Sheridan to Officer Smyth, Officer Trafton
4 ordered the subject to drop the knife; the subject regained his
5 balance and attempted to attack the officers, at which point
6 Officer Trafton was forced to fire a second round at the
7 subject, fatally wounding him; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Due to the extreme bravery and quick thinking of
9 Officer Richard Trafton, a fellow officer's life was saved and
10 a dangerous subject was prevented from causing further harm to
11 the citizens of the City of Joliet; such acts are indicative of
12 Officer Trafton's intense dedication and loyalty to the safety
13 and well-being of his fellow man; and
 
14     WHEREAS, On February 19, 2008, Officer Richard Trafton will
15 be presented with the Police Officer of the Year award by the
16 Exchange Club of Joliet for his years of dedicated service in a
17 ceremony in his honor; therefore, be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
20 congratulate Officer Richard Trafton on the occasion of being
21 the recipient of the Police Officer of the Year award and wish
22 him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it
23 further
 

 

 

HR0936 - 3 - LRB095 18880 GRL 45023 r

1     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to Richard Trafton as a symbol of our esteem and
3 respect.