HR0180 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0180 LRB101 11464 ALS 57490 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Village of Mundelein Chief of Police Eric Guenther on receiving the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service, the American Medical Association's (AMA) top government service award; and

WHEREAS, Chief Guenther spearheaded the award-winning "A Way Out" program, Lake County's response to the opioid abuse crisis, which allows law enforcement to place people with opioid use disorder into substance abuse treatment programs as an alternative to arrest and prosecution through the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, "A Way Out" has the participation of several police departments throughout Lake County and has created partnerships with every treatment center in the county; the relationship between law enforcement and drug users has been changed, making departments themselves a starting point in the recovery process; and

WHEREAS, The program was immediately successful, with the first patient entering a participating police station just one day after the program was announced in June 2016; and

WHEREAS, "When confronted with an opioid epidemic that has overwhelmed police departments and first responders across the country, Chief Guenther found an innovative solution that is working for his community and giving people with substance use disorder a chance at recovery," said AMA Board Chair Jack Resneck Jr. M.D.; and

WHEREAS, Chief Guenther was one of eight honorees chosen; the award, named for the founding father of the American Medical Association, recognizes elected and career officials in federal, state, or municipal service whose outstanding contributions have promoted the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Village of Mundelein Chief of Police Eric Guenther on receiving the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service, and we commend his work to shape a productive, treatment-based response to the opioid abuse epidemic; and be it further

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