RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Arthur J. Bilek has officially announced his retirement as Executive Vice President of the Chicago Crime Commission, effective December 31, 2014; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A native Chicagoan, Arthur J. Bilek has enjoyed a highly distinguished and exemplary career in law enforcement that has spanned more than 60 years; and
WHEREAS, Arthur J. Bilek joined the Chicago Crime Commission thirty years ago and was named Executive Vice President in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Arthur J. Bilek, the Chicago Crime Commission partnered with the United Stated Drug Enforcement Agency to designate Public Enemy Number One; and
WHEREAS, Originally coined by the Commission in 1930 for Chicago mafia leader Al Capone, the title was assigned in 2013 to Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera who was captured by authorities earlier this year; and
WHEREAS, Raised in Rogers Park on the City's Far North Side, Arthur J. Bilek attended Loyola University where he earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology and a master's degree in social work in criminology and delinquency; and
WHEREAS, Arthur J. Bilek began his career with the Chicago Police Department where he served until 1958 when he became a Special Investigator for Cook County State's Attorney Benjamin Adamowski; and
WHEREAS, As a Special Investigator, Arthur J. Bilek was among the arresting officers in the Summerdale Police District "Burglars in Blue" scandal and led a successful raid on mobster Rocco Fischetti; and
WHEREAS, Arthur J. Bilek returned to the Chicago Police Department in 1960 and was appointed in 1962 by Cook County Sheriff Richard B. Ogilvie to head and reform the sheriffs police; and
WHEREAS, Arthur J. Bilek founded the Criminal Justice Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he was a Professor and Chairman; and
WHEREAS, A nationally-recognized authority on organized crime, Arthur J. Bilek wrote the curriculum that was used to teach the first baccalaureate program in criminal justice in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Arthur J. Bilek was the first Corporate Director of Security for the Hilton Hotel Corporation and was Director of Security and Investigations for First National Bank of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Arthur J. Bilek serve as an example to all; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this tenth day of December, 2014, do hereby express our gratitude to Arthur J. Bilek on his legacy of distinguished service to the law enforcement community and do hereby declare that December 31, 2014, shall be officially recognized throughout the City of Chicago as Arthur J. Bilek Day, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Arthur J. Bilek.
merman - 14th Ward