HR0638 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0638 LRB102 25826 LAW 35170 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Deputy Chief Christopher "Chris" Papaioannou of the Chicago Police Department on the occasion of receiving the 2021 Law Enforcement Official of the Year Award from the Illinois Security Professionals Association; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou was born in Chicago as a first generation American, his parents coming to the United States from Greece; he attended Lane Tech High School, received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, earned his master's degree in Public Safety Administration from Calumet College of St. Joseph, and attended the FBI National Academy under Session 275 in 2019; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou is a lifelong resident of Chicago and previously worked as a lifeguard for the Chicago Park District at North Avenue Beach; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou has served the Chicago Police Department for 22 years, starting in 1999; he held several roles as a policeman and patrolman from 1999 to 2008; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, Deputy Chief Papaioannou began serving as Sergeant of the Police and Tactical Team for the 6th District; he served in Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) from 2010 to 2012; and

WHEREAS, From 2012 to 2016, Deputy Chief Papaioannou served in various additional roles, including as Sergeant for the 7th District, Sergeant Area Central for Project Safe Neighborhood, Sergeant of the 18th District Entertainment Venue Team, and as Sergeant of the Education and Training Division of the Carbine Program; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou served as Lieutenant of Police for the 10th District in 2016; he served as Lieutenant of Police for the Bureau of Organizational Development from October 2016 to May 2019; and

WHEREAS, In May 2019, Deputy Chief Papaioannou began serving as Commander of Police for the 19th District on Chicago's Northwest Side; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou was promoted to Deputy Chief: Street Deputy in January 2022, where he responds and provides command presence to critical unplanned incidents with appropriate decision-making responses; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou has received numerous awards for his work in the Chicago Police Department, including three Lifesaving Awards, eight Department Commendations, and the Arnold Mireles Special Partner Award; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou is a current member of the Hellenic American Police Association (HAPA) and was a founding member of the Omega Phi Alpha Psi fraternity at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou has also served as captain of the Chicago Police Department football team; he is SCUBA-certified, and he was previously named light-heavyweight champion in boxing at Supercop 2006 and novice light-heavy champion in bodybuilding at Illinois State 2005; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou has been married to his wife, Camilla, since 2004, and they have three children; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Papaioannou has been recognized as a dedicated, passionate, open-minded individual committed to serving through leading by example; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Deputy Chief Christopher Papaioannou on receiving the 2021 Law Enforcement Official of the Year Award from the Illinois Security Professionals Association and thank him for his years of service to the Chicago Police Department; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Deputy Chief Papaioannou as an expression of our esteem and respect.