Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HJR0003

HJ0003 LRB104 06011 LAW 16044 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals who have served our country and State and, in doing so, have made the ultimate sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, Chief Arthur L. Weston of the Rockton Police Department responded to a burglary-in-progress call on October 27, 1977, locating the suspect in an upstairs bedroom; after an intense struggle, he was able to place the suspect into custody; as he was transporting the suspect to jail, he began to experience chest pains and called for backup; he was taken to a local hospital, where he died approximately one hour later; and

WHEREAS, Chief Weston was born to Leo and Dorothy Weston in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 1, 1925; he graduated from West High School in 1943; he served in the U.S. Army during World War II; he married Marion J. Peck on August 21, 1947; and

WHEREAS, Chief Weston started his career in law enforcement as a patrolman for the Loves Park Police Department; he was the former police chief and organizer of the Rock Valley College Security Force; he also served as police chief in Byron and Roscoe as well as deputy coroner for Winnebago County and deputy of the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department; and

WHEREAS, Chief Weston was a proud member of the Illinois Police Association, the Rockton Rotary Club, and the Rockton American Legion; and

WHEREAS, Chief Weston was a loving husband and father to his wife and his five children; and

WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Chief Weston was survived by his wife, Marion Weston, and his children, Cindy Gau, Vickey Roberts, Debbie Pasch, Wanda Vertterlli, and William Weston; and

WHEREAS, Chief Weston gave his life in the line of duty, and his service to and sacrifice for the people of Illinois should never be forgotten; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of Illinois Route 2 in Rockton as the "Chief Arthur L. Weston Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "Chief Arthur L. Weston Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Chief Weston and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.