HR0404 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0404 LRB103 34183 LAW 64006 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Therese Suarez on the occasion of her retirement from St. Clair County after more than 35 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Therese Suarez began serving St. Clair County through the St. Clair Detention Facility in 1989; during her tenure, she has held many positions, including probation officer in 1995, domestic battery officer in 1999, and juvenile probation officer in 2000; she became an adult officer in 2001 and an administration officer in 2003; she was promoted to chief administration transfer officer in 2007 and was then named redeploy coordinator in 2011; lastly, she was promoted to supervisor in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Therese Suarez has served St. Clair County with distinction, ensuring the safety and security for all officers in the 20th Judicial Circuit and consistently seeking avenues to benefit her fellow officers, including being instrumental in obtaining new bullet proof vests for all officers in the circuit and working closely with outer county sheriff's departments to obtain radios for all officers in that area; and

WHEREAS, Therese Suarez originally earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from McKendree University in 1987; she has continued to pursue additional training and knowledge to better do her job and improve her skills in the field of social work and criminal justice, with her additional training including self-defense, safety awareness, motivational interviewing, Siemens Analyzer 9drug testing, crisis intervention, CPR/AED/First Aid, domestic violence, and firearms qualifications; and

WHEREAS, Therese Suarez has received several accolades, including a commendation from the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department for assistance with a juvenile murder case in 1991, a letter of appreciation from the Children's Center for Behavioral Development for speaking on probation services at the center in 1991, and a commendation from the Fairmont City Police Chief for conducting a field interview of an occupied vehicle in 1995, which resulted in four arrests and the recovery of a loaded firearm and drug contraband; she was named Employee of the Month in June 1991 and won the Pauline Gansauer Award from the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association for her dedication to the profession in 2021; and

WHEREAS, Despite her many responsibilities, Therese Suarez has continued to volunteer in her local community, mainly through working with youth and the Hispanic population; her volunteer efforts have included events for the foundation Tsunami Waves, and she has actively tried to develop new youth recreational activities and events; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Therese Suarez on the occasion of her retirement from St. Clair County after more than 35 years of service, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors; and be it further

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