title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING FIRE, POLICE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE COOK COUNTY SUBURBAN DUTY OFFICER PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has worked to embrace the principals of innovative leadership, improved services, transparency and accountability as well as fiscal responsibility; and,
WHEREAS, as part of the above, the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has worked to significantly enhance outreach and collaboration with key stakeholders from local, state and federal agencies and jurisdictions, in addition to other entities in the public, private, non-profit and other sectors over the last twenty nine months; and
WHEREAS, coordination, cooperation and information sharing is absolutely vital to the success of preparedness, emergency management and response operations; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has created a number of avenues to gather and disseminate information, thereby enhancing overall situational awareness throughout the County, and placing local, county and mutual aid first responders in a better position to respond to an incident; and
WHEREAS, in the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management's efforts, the partnership of local police, fire and emergency management agencies and personnel is absolutely vital; and,
WHEREAS, in order to improve situational awareness and increase information sharing and partnerships, the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, working in cooperation with local jurisdictions, created the Suburban Duty Officer Program; and
WHEREAS, the Suburban Duty Officer Program provides first responders from across Cook County -including local fire, law enforcement, emergency management and public works officials - the opportunity to be trained on the information sharing, interoperability and operational capabilities of the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, providing insight into how the Department addresses critical incidents and daily operations; and
WHEREAS, the Suburban Duty Officer Program allows for a truly cross-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional training effort which raises the skill levels and understanding of all parties; and
WHEREAS, the Suburban Duty Officer Program participants complete training at the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management's Duty Desk, Incident Command Center, Emergency Readiness Center and other entities, to include the regional Fusion Center located at the Chicago Police Department, as well as partners from various federal agencies; and
WHEREAS, the Suburban Duty Officer Program continues to improve relationships between local entities and the County, further establishing the County as a trusted and reliable partner in homeland security and emergency management issues, and enhancing operational response; and
WHEREAS, the Suburban Duty Officer Program allows the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to gain valuable feedback from participants, to include essential recommendations to the County's current and developing projects, systems and efforts; and
WHEREAS, local stakeholders have devoted their resources and personnel to participate in the Suburban Duty Officer Program, thereby enhancing regional cooperation, information sharing and cross-training; and,
WHEREAS, the leadership of local police, fire and emergency management as well as other municipal entities have embraced an unprecedented level of cooperation and partnership, working with the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at previously unthinkable levels, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby recognize and honor those jurisdictions and local stakeholders who have participated in the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Suburban Duty Officer Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners commends those local jurisdictions and first responders for their dedication of time, intellect, and energy to Cook County's preparedness and response efforts which has contributed to enhancing the safety and security of our local jurisdictions, Cook County and our region.
end