HR0453 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0453 LRB096 13047 GRL 27314 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Officer Timothy Gramins of the Skokie Police Department on the occasion of winning the 2009 TOP COPS Award from the National Association Of Police Organizations; and

WHEREAS, On August 25, 2008, a bank in Northbrook was robbed at gun-point by a single offender who fled the scene in a white car; after a report describing the offender and his vehicle was broadcast over police radio, Officer Timothy Gramins spotted a car and suspect matching the description and attempted to pull the car over; the offender refused to stop and made a quick turn down a residential street; and

WHEREAS, Continuing his tail of the offender, Officer Timothy Gramins was in the process of notifying dispatch of his actions when the offender spun his car sideways, jumped out of his vehicle, and began firing at Officer Gramins with a handgun; in response, Officer Gramins immediately returned fire through his windshield, an action that gave him time to exit his cruiser and reload his weapon; Officer Gramins and the offender then fired at each other over, around, and under their vehicles, an exchange that turned the quiet street into a war-zone; eventually, Officer Gramins was forced to engage the offender from a prone position, firing from under his vehicle while the offender did the same; during this exchange, the offender was struck several times and was fatally wounded; and

WHEREAS, At the conclusion of this tense situation, not a single civilian had been hurt and a dangerous armed robber was stopped, thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of Officer Gramins; and

WHEREAS, Officer Gramins was honored for his bravery at the 16th Annual TOP COPS award ceremony on May 12, 2009; the ceremony was held at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Officer Timothy Gramins serves as a model of courage, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Officer Timothy Gramins on the occasion of winning the 2009 TOP COPS Award and wish him continued success and happiness in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Officer Timothy Gramins as a symbol of our esteem and respect.