HR0197 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0197 LRB101 11561 ALS 57484 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend Sergeant Keith Miller on his actions as he calmed a patient with autism who was in the midst of a violent reaction to his medication; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Miller was the sergeant in charge of the security team at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood when a 33-year old male patient with autism entered the hospital in the midst of a violent reaction to his medication; instead of restraining the patient with force, the security team calmed him down by singing, dancing, and playing games; the officers continued to play games with the patient for two and a half hours while doctors administered necessary treatment; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Miller, who is also the parent of an autistic child, was prompted to seek training in how to handle people with autism who arrive at the hospital in distress because he felt that health care organizations and law enforcement officers are not prepared to deal with those specific situations; now, he helps train other officers and emphasizes that no two people with autism are the same; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Miller noted that he has learned a lot from this experience and realized the autism community is larger than he imagined; he believes that many other parents are struggling, and police and other public safety officers are realizing that there is a need for specialized training, as autism diagnoses continue to increase; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Miller grew up in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, the youngest of four children raised by their mother; he spent many nights helping the son of a friend of his mother who had muscular dystrophy, which he believes prepared him to be more compassionate; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Sergeant Keith Miller on his display of compassion, respect, thoughtfulness, gentleness, and kindness as he calmed a patient with autism, providing the type of response that can work in emergency rooms, hospital rooms, court rooms, classrooms, boardrooms, and beyond; and be it further

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