RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On December 7, 2016, Josephine Regnier, a resident of the 14 Ward, was brutally assaulted and robbed in the doorway of her home; and
WHEREAS, Josephine Regnier honorably served this country as a member of the United States Navy during World War II; and
WHEREAS, on December 7th, the 75lh anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Mrs. Regnier had been waiting to be picked up by her daughter for a visit to the dentist when she stepped back inside her house to seek warmth; and
WHEREAS, as she entered her house, a man suddenly pushed his way inside, viciously beat her and stole her purse containing $50; and
WHEREAS, Josephine Regnier was transported to Hines VA Hospital where she was diagnosed with several fractured ribs, a black eye and a head injury; and
WHEREAS, upon hearing of the attack, members of her local community rushed to support Mrs. Regnier and her family; and
WHEREAS, a Go Fund Me page launched by a family member of Mrs. Regnier's has raised nearly $6,000 to assist in the payment of her hospital expenses, medical transport and recuperation expenses; and
WHEREAS, the owners of Villa Rossa Pizzeria in Garfield Ridge, Jimmy and Tommy Pieprzyca, called police after capturing an image of the attacker on their surveillance cameras as he fled the scene; and
WHEREAS, through the use of social media, the Pieprzyca's offered a $5,000 reward to any member of the community who could provide information on the attacker captured in the video; and
WHEREAS, after receiving a flood of tips, information was obtained leading to the arrest of Olajuwon Claiborne on December 9th by the Chicago police; and
WHEREAS, Claiborne, a 26-year-old male was arrested and has been held without bond in Cook County Jail, facing a charge of home invasion, aggravated battery and robbery; and
WHEREAS, Josephine Regnier, despite her injuries and suffering from severe pain, was released from the hospital on Saturday December 10th and is expected to make a complete recovery; and
WHEREAS, those who came forward to assist in this matter demonstrated a spirit of self-sacrifice which is the embodiment of the spirit of Christmas; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, while Josephine Regnier recovers from this attack, the City Council wishes to express its sympathy for the pain and suffering she has experienced; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council wishes to express its great appreciation to those who offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of the attacker and to the individual who assisted the Police Department in a sting operation leading to his arrest; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council offers it thanks to the men and women of the Police Department who worked quickly to remove a habitual criminal from the streets of Chicago, helping to make Chicago the place where we all love to live; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled on the fourteenth day of December 2016 do hereby express our sincere appreciation to Josephine Regnier for her military service and wish her a swift recovery; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Josephine Regnier.
Alderman-14'" Ward