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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Chief Mike Riley retired from his position as
3Chief of Police of the Village of New Baden on July 1, 2015;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, A young Mike Riley moved with his family to New
6Baden in 1957; he graduated from Wesclin High School in 1970;
7from there, he pursued his higher education at Southwestern
8Illinois College and then transferred to Southern Illinois
9University in Edwardsville to receive his bachelor's degree;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, After college, Mike Riley began his career as a
12patrolman in New Baden under Chief Bob Volmer; he worked hard
13as a patrolman and worked his way up the ranks to become Chief
14of the Department in April of 1979; and
 
15    WHEREAS, As Chief, Mike Riley helped to serve his community
16through many hardships, including the devastating tornado that
17struck New Baden in December of 1982 which killed 2 people,
18injured over 64 people, and damaged over 140 homes, causing
19nearly $8 million in damage; during this dark time, Chief Riley
20served as a bright light by leading and managing rescues,
21coordinating with nearly 200 first responders from local
22communities, and assisting with subsequent clean-up efforts

 

 

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1over the following days and weeks; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Mike Riley has always strived to improve himself
3to provide better service for the people under his care; in
41990, he traveled to the FBI National Academy in Quantico,
5Virginia, where he graduated as a member of the 162nd Session
6of the prestigious training for Police Executives; and
 
7    WHEREAS, In recognition of his outstanding service, Mike
8Riley was recognized as the Alumnus of the Year at Wesclin High
9School in 1993; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Mike Riley has served the New Baden community for
11nearly 40 years under 4 Village Presidents and has commanded
12over 60 officers during his tenure; throughout his career, he
13has served as a great example for officers and members of the
14community alike; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The City of New Baden and the members of this body
16are grateful for the service Mike Riley has provided during his
17tenure and extend our thanks to him for the 40 years that he
18has dedicated to the safekeeping and betterment of the New
19Baden community; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we

 

 

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1congratulate Chief Mike Riley on the occasion of his retirement
2and recognize him for his outstanding achievements and
3contributions to the New Baden community; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
5presented to Chief Mike Riley and the New Baden Police
6Department as a symbol of our respect and esteem.