HR0774 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0774 LRB094 15898 CSA 51122 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Decatur Police Department celebrates the 150th anniversary of its founding on January 7, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Officers will wear a specially designed commemorative 150th anniversary badge during the year of 2006; and

WHEREAS, The first city marshal was elected to office January 7, 1856; the marshal was the sole law enforcement officer for the city until the mid-1860s, when a deputy marshal was elected to assist him; by 1876, the police department consisted of the marshal, a deputy marshal, and 5 officers; by 1882, the city marshal and deputy marshal were no longer elected officials, but appointed by the mayor; the title of city marshal disappeared in the late 1890s and was replaced with the title of chief of police; by 1900, Decatur had 12 sworn officers; and

WHEREAS, In 1960, the police chief formed the first formal detective bureau for the police department and the civil service rank of detective was created; and

WHEREAS, The police department was located in the county courthouse on the southeast corner of Water and Wood Streets until 1927, when it moved into a building across the street on the northwest corner of Water and Washington; in 1939, when the present county courthouse was constructed in the 200 block of East Wood, the police department moved back in; in 1964, the police department moved into the city's municipal building located at 707 East Wood; in 1989, the police department moved into the newly constructed Law Enforcement Center in the 300 block of South Franklin; and

WHEREAS, As of this time, the Decatur Police Department has a force of 164 sworn officers, including 102 patrol officers, 36 detectives, 17 sergeants, 5 lieutenants, 3 deputy chiefs, and a police chief; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Decatur Police Department on the occasion of its 150th anniversary and express our sincerest best wishes for the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Decatur Police Department as an expression of our admiration and esteem.