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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate the citizens and
4officials of the City of Aurora for having a zero murder rate
5during the 2012 calendar year; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The City of Aurora has not had a full calendar
7year without a recorded murder since 1946, when Aurora's
8population was about 48,000 people; the presence of a
9world-class police force that works with community groups, city
10leaders, and law enforcement agencies has led to a significant
11decline in major crime rates over the past decade, even as the
12city's population grew to 199,672, making it Illinois' second
13largest city; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In an effort to combat gang violence, the City of
15Aurora has established many community partnerships with
16neighborhood groups and community organizations to discuss
17what could be done to reduce crime; these partnerships have
18resulted in more engaged residents that are more apt to report
19suspicious activity to police and, as a result, a greater
20number of arrests and prosecutions in the city; the Aurora
21Police Department has also gained assistance from the FBI, the
22Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and other
23federal agencies to conduct RICO investigations into drug and

 

 

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1weapons cases, resulting in federal charges that have put more
2than 130 gang members behind bars; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Leaders, community groups, and taxpayers in the
4City of Aurora have supported initiatives that have resulted in
5the investment of millions of dollars in the Aurora Police
6Department and have given Aurora police officers the advanced
7tools and technology they needed to fight crime in the 21st
8century, including a new state-of-the-art police headquarters;
9additionally, all city government employees have been
10challenged to find ways to support the city-wide goal of
11reducing crime, from removing graffiti and fixing broken
12streetlights during working hours to reporting suspicious
13activity and broken windows; all City departments now work in
14tandem to keep crime down in the city; and
 
15    WHEREAS, This concerted effort by citizens, elected
16officials, and law enforcement to fight crime in Aurora is
17worthy of the greatest respect and serves as a model for other
18communities; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21we congratulate the citizens and officials of the City of
22Aurora for having a zero murder rate during the 2012 calendar
23year and wish them continued success in their law enforcement

 

 

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1efforts in the future; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the City of Aurora as a symbol of our esteem and
4respect.