Full Text of HR0703 103rd General Assembly
HR0703 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY | | | HR0703 | | LRB103 40260 ECR 72241 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION | 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives wish to commend Deputy John Forlenza and | 4 | | Police K9 Dax for their honorable service and dedication to | 5 | | their community, the State as a whole, and the nation; and | 6 | | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax, a German Shepard, was born on | 7 | | March 4, 2014 near Spokane, Washington; and | 8 | | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax's breeder told the TOPS kennel and | 9 | | the police K9 training center that he was a special dog to be | 10 | | placed with someone who was a good fit; and | 11 | | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax and Lake County Sheriff's Deputy | 12 | | John Forlenza were matched as a team on April 20, 2015 and | 13 | | graduated from the TOPS kennel police K9 program on June 12, | 14 | | 2015; and | 15 | | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax seized millions of dollars, | 16 | | hundreds of kilos of illegal drugs, dozens of firearms | 17 | | discarded by offenders, and dozens of vehicles; and | 18 | | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax has received numerous recognitions | 19 | | and awards, including recognition from the Illinois House of | 20 | | Representatives in 2016, a Lake County Board Special |
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| 1 | | Recognition in 2019, a Certificate of Recognition from the | 2 | | Illinois State Senate in 2022, the ASIS International-Illinois | 3 | | North Shore Chapter Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award | 4 | | in 2017, a Chicago Crime Commission Paws of Distinction in | 5 | | 2017, the K9's of Valor Foundation K9 of the Year in 2018, the | 6 | | 100 Club of Chicago Valor Award in 2019, the American Humane | 7 | | Hero Dog-Law Enforcement in 2019, the Italian American Police | 8 | | Association Officer of the Year in 2019, a Lake County | 9 | | Sheriff's Commendation Award in 2022, the Lake County | 10 | | Sheriff's Office Sheriff Award for Valor in 2022, an Illinois | 11 | | Law Enforcement Medal of Honor in 2023, and the German Shepard | 12 | | Dog Club of the Year Hero Dog Award in 2023; and | 13 | | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax competed in several competitions | 14 | | with the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) and | 15 | | in national and regional trials across the country for | 16 | | tracking, article searches, narcotics, suspect searches, and | 17 | | protection, winning six USPCA Championships and earning two | 18 | | Tracking Exceptional Certificates; and | 19 | | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax is known across the nation due to | 20 | | his appearances on numerous local and national news stations, | 21 | | including Fox Nation Hero Dogs, Hallmark Channel American | 22 | | Humane's Hero Dog, Hallmark Channel Home and Family Show, NBC | 23 | | Access Daily, NBC Today Show, A&E Network America's Top Dog | 24 | | Competition, and ESPN Dynamic K9 Duos; he was featured in |
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| 1 | | People Magazine and made many appearances at local schools and | 2 | | police K9 demonstrations to demonstrate police K9 skills and | 3 | | teach the public about the police profession; and | 4 | | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax was injured in his neck and spine in | 5 | | the line of duty apprehending a repeat felon who was fleeing | 6 | | officers, forcing his retirement; and | 7 | | WHEREAS, Following Police K9 Dax's injury and diagnosis of | 8 | | intervertebral disc disease, Deputy John Forlenza submitted | 9 | | Police K9 Dax's official retirement request to Lake County | 10 | | Sheriff John D. Idleburg, and his retirement was celebrated on | 11 | | April 10, 2024; and | 12 | | WHEREAS, Due to the extent of Police K9 Dax's injuries, | 13 | | the difficult decision was made to end his suffering on April | 14 | | 12, 2024; and | 15 | | WHEREAS, Deputy John Forlenza and Police K9 Dax were a | 16 | | dynamic duo, partners, and best friends, who together saved | 17 | | many lives and protected the residents of Lake County; | 18 | | therefore, be it | 19 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 20 | | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 21 | | we commend Deputy John Forlenza and Police K9 Dax for their |
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| 1 | | honorable service and dedication to their community, the State | 2 | | as a whole, and the nation; and be it further | 3 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | 4 | | presented to Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg and Deputy John | 5 | | Forlenza as a token of our great esteem and respect. |
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