Board of Commissioners of Cook County - File #: 24-4096

• File #: 24-4096
• Version: 1
• Name: Honoring the Life and Service of Commissioner Dennis Deer
• Type: Consent Calendar Resolution
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 7/9/2024
• In control: Board of Commissioners
• On agenda: 7/18/2024
• Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF COMMISSIONER DENNIS DEER WHEREAS, Dennis Deer, born on August 7, 1972, and raised in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, dedicated his life to public service and the betterment of his community; and WHEREAS, Commissioner Deer pursued his education at Collins High School in Chicago, and subsequently at Jackson State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary/Special Education and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Psychology; and WHEREAS, Commissioner Deer became interested in studying behavioral health after witnessing a murder at the age of 10 and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, leading him to later obtain his Ph.D. in Christian Psychology from Agape Theological Institute. He also earned certifications as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, forensic counselor, rehabilitation counselor, corrective thinking therapist, and Illinois law enforcement standards and training instruc...
• Sponsors: TONI PRECKWINKLE (President), FRANK J. AGUILAR, ALMA E. ANAYA, SCOTT R. BRITTON, JOHN P. DALEY, BRIDGET DEGNEN, BRIDGET GAINER, MONICA GORDON, BILL LOWRY, DONNA MILLER, STANLEY MOORE, JOSINA MORITA, KEVIN B. MORRISON, SEAN M. MORRISON, ANTHONY J. QUEZADA, TARA S. STAMPS, MAGGIE TREVOR

title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION

HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF COMMISSIONER DENNIS DEER

WHEREAS, Dennis Deer, born on August 7, 1972, and raised in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, dedicated his life to public service and the betterment of his community; and

WHEREAS, Commissioner Deer pursued his education at Collins High School in Chicago, and subsequently at Jackson State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary/Special Education and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Psychology; and

WHEREAS, Commissioner Deer became interested in studying behavioral health after witnessing a murder at the age of 10 and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, leading him to later obtain his Ph.D. in Christian Psychology from Agape Theological Institute. He also earned certifications as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, forensic counselor, rehabilitation counselor, corrective thinking therapist, and Illinois law enforcement standards and training instructor; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Deer served as the President of County Commissioner Robert Steele's fundraising committee, considering Commissioner Steele a mentor, and following Steele's passing in 2017, he ran for and won the primary and the general election unopposed on November 6, 2018, to serve as the Cook County Commissioner for the 2nd District; and

WHEREAS, Commissioner Deer faithfully represented the 2nd District, including portions of the Loop, Near West Side, Near South Side, North Lawndale, Englewood, and Washington Park community areas, from 2017 until his untimely passing on June 23, 2024; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure, Commissioner Deer served on multiple committees of both the Board of Commissioners and the Forest Preserve District Board, contributing significantly to the governance and improvement of Cook County; and

WHEREAS, Commissioner Deer was initially appointed to the Cook County Health Board (CCB) in 2017 to fill a partial term and continued to be re-elect...