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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH R. KOZENCZAK
WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has taken from our midst Joseph R. (Joe) Kozenczak born into life on March 20, 1940 and born into eternal life on May 13, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Joe Kozenczak was the beloved husband of wife Karen; loving father of Natalie Jude Hua [Brandon], Michael Joseph [Mary], Lisa Marie [D. Maggio], Deborah Ann [Ben]; and grandfather of two; and
WHEREAS, Joe Kozenczak served honorably in the United States Army Military Police Corps in the 8th Army in Korea and the 6th Army in Arizona and achieved the rank of Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, Joe Kozenczak earned several educational degrees starting with a Associates of Science Degree in Police Science and Administration from Triton College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree from DePaul University, a Masters of Public Administration from Roosevelt University, and was a graduate of the John E. Reid College of Deception and Detection as well as a graduate of the 126th Session of the FBI National Academy; and
WHEREAS, Joe Kozenczak was a member of the City of Des Plaines Police Department where he served with distinction for 27 years and achieved the rank of Sergeant in the 1960’s, Lieutenant in the early 1970’s, Chief of Detectives in 1978, Captain in 1980, and Chief of Police from 1985 to 1989; and
WHEREAS, Joe Kozenczak, as Chief of Detectives, headed the investigation in 1978 that led to the arrest of one of the most notorious serial killers in U.S. history, John Wayne Gacy, Jr. and as a result, he was recognized by the International Chiefs of Police as one of the top ten police officers nationally for his investigation work on the Gacy case along with many other honors he received; and
WHEREAS, Joe Kozenczak’s work on the Gacy case was the subject of a book he co-authored with his wife Karen titled, “The Chicago Killer” as well as a television miniseries, “To Catch A Killer”; and
WHEREAS, Joe Kozenczak lectured around the country and internationally as an expert on missing persons cases and serial murder investigations and authored numerous articles on Law Enforcement topics published both in the United States and internationally; and
WHEREAS, Joe Kozenczak, after retiring from the Des Plaines Police Department, continued his career as a regional security director for TNT Express, Vice President of Investigations for John Reid and Associates, Criminal Justice Specialist for the State of Illinois, and practiced as a licensed private investigator; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Cook County President Toni Preckwinckle, Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman and the entire Board of Commissioners do hereby express our deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family as well as to the many friends and loved ones of Joseph R. Kozenczak, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable body and that a copy also be tendered to the family of Joseph R. Kozenczak so that his rich legacy may be so honored and ever cherished.
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