HR0442 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0442 LRB102 19975 LAW 28759 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Lieutenant Aaron R. Landers of St. Joseph, who passed away on August 23, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Landers served as a police officer for the University of Illinois Police Department and the campus community for 24 years; he was named supervisor of the department's new Community Outreach and Support Team in 2020, which is tasked with providing educational programming for the campus community, support resources, community engagement, and mental health crisis intervention; he also served on the University of Illinois Bomb Squad and was recently appointed its commander; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Landers recently acquired K-9 Winston, a therapy dog with the University of Illinois Police Department; together, they traveled to Chicago to provide comfort to members of the Chicago Police Department following the line-of-duty death of Chicago Police Officer Ella French; they visited the Champaign Police Department several times earlier this year following the line-of-duty death of Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Landers earned several awards throughout his career, including two life-saving awards, the Excellence in Community Policing Award, and the Director of Public Safety Recognition Award; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Landers was an avid bicyclist and rode in the annual Cycle Across Illinois event to benefit the Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) nonprofit organization; he completed this year's 340-mile ride through the state in July; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Landers was a dedicated public servant; he will be remembered for his character, his optimism, and his service to the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lieutenant Aaron R. Landers and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lt. Landers as an expression of our deepest sympathy.