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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING CICERO POLICE OFFICER LUIS DUARTE FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AND HEROISM
WHEREAS, Officer Luis Duarte has served with the Cicero Police Department since 2015 with the utmost skill, dedication and professionalism; and deserves proper recognition for his heroism in protecting the public on September 13, 2018; and
WHEREAS, on September 13, 2018, Officer Duarte and his partner, Officer Jamarie Coleman, of the Cicero Police Department were on patrol and attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop near 34th Street and Cicero Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the driver of said vehicle refused to stop and continued southbound on Cicero, eventually stopping in rush-hour traffic, and exited his vehicle while armed with a handgun firing several rounds towards Officers Duarte and Coleman; and
WHEREAS, Officer Duarte was shot by the assailant several times, sustaining life-threatening injuries as he responded to the shooter; and
WHEREAS, Officer Coleman then engaged the armed assailant, who was a previously convicted felon with a felony warrant out of California, and after an exchange of gunfire in which the armed assailant was struck by Coleman’s return fire, the armed assailant was placed into custody; and
WHEREAS, numerous other officers arrived on the scene and began treating Officer Duarte’s numerous gunshot wounds, applying tourniquets to Officer Duarte’s extremities to stop the profuse bleeding; and
WHEREAS, trauma surgeons at Mt. Sinai Hospital treated Officer Duarte and helped save Officer Duarte’s life; and
WHEREAS, the County Board finds it appropriate to specially recognize this noble and courageous man and police officer, and all police officers and first responders for their heroic actions on September 13, 2018.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby honor Officer Luis Duarte for his heroism, both as an officer of the Cicero Police Department and as a member of society, and thank him for helping to make Cook County a better and safer place to live, work, and raise a family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to Officer Luis Duarte as an expression of his courage, bravery and heroism to the Citizens of Cook County.
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