SR0140 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0140 LRB094 11890 HSS 44373 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Edward Leroy Buckney on Friday, April 1, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Born in Keokuk, Iowa, on February 28, 1929, Commander Edward L. Buckney graduated from Keokuk Senior High School in 1947 with honors; his high school days were replete with extra curricular activities; he later attended Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and majored in social science and physical education; he received a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Columbia College in Chicago and a master's degree in public administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology; and

WHEREAS, He valiantly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953; he attained the rank of corporal and served in the Korean War as a member of the 568th Medical Ambulance Company; and

WHEREAS, Commander Buckney had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement; appointed to the Chicago Police Department on June 16, 1954, he became the first African-American officer to be permanently assigned to State Street (the intersection of State and Madison) at what was then called "the world's busiest corner"; in January of 1959, he transferred to the old 11th District, and in May of 1960, he was appointed sergeant, becoming the first African American to be assigned to the Superintendent's office; though he was not a lawyer, he was assigned to the Training Division in 1961, where he taught criminal law for four years; and

WHEREAS, His outstanding career in law enforcement includes: Sergeant (1963); Lieutenant (1965); Commanding Officer of Task Force Area 1 (1965); Commanding Officer - Detective Division (1966); and Commanding Officer of the Gang Intelligence Unit (March 1967), where he was cited for "Outstanding Community Service" and phenomenal efforts in fighting Chicago's gang problem; his work attracted the attention of local and national news organizations giving Chicago and the nation an unprecedented view of the inner-workings of urban gangs; he served as Captain of Police (1968), District Commander (1975), Assistant Deputy Superintendent of Field Operations, and Director of the Chicago Police Training Academy (1983 to 1988); and

WHEREAS, Commander Buckney later joined the Oak Park Police Department as Deputy Chief, where he became the first African-American supervisor in the department's history; he retired in 1993 and enjoyed his passions - bowling, traveling, golf, and spending time with his family; he was a member of the Chatham Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Chicago for more than 40 years; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Commander Edward Leroy Buckney has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife of 27 years, Dr. Cozette Buckney; his sister-in-law, Alberta Turner Kelley (James); his nieces, Erica and Brittany; his nephew, Richard; and his many other relatives and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Edward Leroy Buckney, and we extend our deepest sympathy 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 his family as an expression of our sincerest condolences during their time of bereavement.