HR1229 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1229 LRB093 23658 CSA 53667 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, David J. "Joe" Plummer was born in Mattoon, the son of Robert L. and Betty Plummer; Joe's father, Robert L. Plummer, was employed by the Mattoon Police Department from 1949 until his death in 1974 and served as Chief of Police for the nine years immediately preceding his death; and

WHEREAS, Joe graduated from Mattoon High School in 1972; he and his wife, Barbara Ann Plummer, reside in Mattoon; they have three children and two grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, at the age of 22, Joe began his law enforcement career with the Mattoon Police Department as a Patrolman; he graduated from the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois in 1976; while serving in the Patrol Division, he gained extensive knowledge of patrol work and attended numerous training seminars in diverse areas of law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, He was assigned to the Mattoon Police Department's Detective Division in 1979 and dedicated his efforts to investigations through the end of his career; as a reflection of his skills, professionalism and investigative abilities, his personnel file includes numerous letters from top law enforcement officials and prosecutors from all over the United States commending him and recognizing his commitment to cooperative efforts across all jurisdictional lines to serve justice; and

WHEREAS, Joe was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and then to the rank of Lieutenant in 1986; he was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1990 and to the rank of Deputy Chief in 1995; upon the retirement of former Chief David L. O'Dell, Joe was appointed by the Mattoon City Council to serve as Chief of Police in 2000; during his tenure as Chief of Police, Joe completed the 213th Session of the Law Enforcement Executive Development Course at the distinguished F.B.I. Academy in Quantico, Virginia, he developed several new community policing strategies, and he made a concentrated effort to ensure that the Detective Division was one of the best investigative units in downstate Illinois; and

WHEREAS, After 28 years of service to the Mattoon Police Department and in anticipation of his retirement, Chief Plummer entertained an employment invitation from the Drug Enforcement Administration; he retired from the Mattoon Police Department effective June 30, 2004; he then attended training at the D.E.A. Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and he was assigned to the Springfield, Illinois division of the Drug Enforcement Administration; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate David J. "Joe" Plummer for his many years of exemplary service with the Mattoon Police Department and we wish him all the best as he continues his dedicated efforts in the field of law enforcement with the Drug Enforcement Administration; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Plummer as an expression of our admiration and esteem.