WHEREAS, Rick Contreras, CAPS Coordinator for the Chicago Police Department is retiring after thirty-seven years of distinguished service to the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Chicago City Council have been informed of this significant occasion by the Honorable Emma Mitts, Alderman of the 37th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Rick earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan in 1979; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, Rick made Chicago his permanent home when he launched his career with the City of Chicago in the departments of Housing and Economic Development, where he discovered his natural ability as an advocate for community outreach through his contributions over four years in programs that focused on mortgage assistance, affordable housing and neighborhood business development; and
WHEREAS, Rick also served the State of Illinois and citizens of Cook County for seven years as regional manager of a network of satellite offices for the Illinois Attorney General, providing access to consumer protection programs and senior citizen support services; and
WHEREAS, Rick functioned for three years as Area Manager for the Chicago Park District, based at Hamilton Park at 72nd and Normal, responsible for programs and operations in the former Central Region, serving diverse neighborhoods including Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Chatham, and Englewood; and
WHEREAS, Rick dutifully and successfully fulfilled various positions in community relations within the Chicago Police department for the last twenty-three years preceding his retirement, where he was instrumental in expanding and implementing the CAPS program that is now operational citywide, including frequent collaboration with Aldermen from throughout the city, particularly in the 3rd, 9th, 30th, 34th and 37th Wards; and
WHEREAS, Rick concentrated on youth engagement in diverse neighborhoods, including facilitating parent patrols for schools, and directing a summer program known as "Neighborhood Youth Corps" in collaboration with the Chicago Housing Authority for teen residents, and under Rick's stewardship, Chicago Police partnered with Target Corporation to pilot a program of Youth Forums for students titled "Making the Right Choice" to introduce pathways to stay on the right track toward achievement and graduation; and
WHEREAS, Rick has been an invaluable asset to the communities he has served, always sharing his expertise to innovate and implement programs to deliver services and improve neighborhoods; and
BE IT RESOL VED, the we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this sixteenth day of October 2019, do hereby express our deep gratitude to Rick Contreras for his service and extend our very best wishes for a wonderful retirement and continued happiness; and
BE IT FURTHER RESMIf^)X\at a suitable copy ofthis rcsol^rr^e^epared
Contreras as a sigr^of^ur utmost honor and respect. / /
UA 0^ / ' l ^^=~-/ * EMMA MITtP
<vf\ :\ **d Alderman, 37th Ward
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