HR1388 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1388 LRB094 21178 HSS 59510 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Those individuals that choose a career which places them in harm's way for the safety and protection of others are worthy of our highest praise; and

WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Manuel Felix Acevedo is retiring from his position with the Chicago Police Department; and

WHEREAS, Officer Acevedo started his Chicago Police career on July 19, 1982, when he began working the streets in the 13th Police District on the near north side; after only three years as an officer he was promoted to Field Training Officer; and

WHEREAS, In September of 1986, he was transferred to the Department's Gang Crimes West Section; the Gang Crimes Section was staffed by some of Chicago's most aggressive street officers; the unit was then Superintendent Leroy Martin's "pride and joy"; and

WHEREAS, Officer Acevedo's duties took him to the near west side of the city which included the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th police districts; the 10th & 11th districts often led the city in gang related killings; in January of 1993, the gang crimes unit was drastically reduced because of budget revamping and Officer Acevedo chose to continue working in the 10th district, where he knew his gang crimes knowledge would be most beneficial to the city; there he and other officers from gang crimes west initiated what was to become the first district gang tactical team; and

WHEREAS, Manny continued his career in the 10th District until September of 2001, when the city beefed up its airport protection unit in response to the attack of 9/11; in January of 2003, Officer Acevedo requested a leave of absence from the police department in order to further develop his law enforcement career by joining the Illinois Department of Corrections, where he continues his work with the Intelligence Division of IDOC, striving to make the community a little safer by keeping on top of the criminal gang factions that corrode the safety net that protects the general public; and

WHEREAS, His retirement from the police department was official on the day he celebrated his 50th birthday, Wednesday, July 26, 2006; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Officer Manuel F. Acevedo on the occasion of his retirement, and we thank him for devoting his life to the protection of others; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Officer Acevedo as an expression of our esteem.