OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
April 30, 2014
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Alderman Balcer, a congratulatory resolution concerning the Chicago Police Department.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
adopted by "The Gity G ouncu
of the Gity of Ghicago, Illinois
ALDERMAN JAMES BALCER
presented by MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL 0M APRIL 30, 2014
BTBCIS ' °n Oc*ober 22, 2013, Chicago Police Sergeant James D. Cascone (Star #1488) and other officers from the 005 Police District responded to a call reporting a "person with a knife" at a home in the Roseland neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, When police officers arrived on the scene, they heard a woman screaming, "Get me out of here, he has knives!"; and
WHEREAS, Unbeknownst to the responding officers, the woman's son, who was angry at his mother for filing domestic battery charges against him, had slashed, beaten and thrown his mother down the stairs of her home before she was able to call the police. He then turned off the lights in the house, and opened gas valves, while he held his mother at knifepoint and lay in wait for the police to arrive; and
WHEREAS, Realizing that the woman was in grave danger and that the door to the residence was locked, Sergeant Cascone forcibly entered into the home's dark hallway, where he was immediately ambushed by the offender and slashed repeatedly in the head and face; and
WHEREAS, Operating in total darkness, and unaware of the fact that Sergeant Cascone had just been viciously attacked, the responding officers attempted to capture the woman's son without using deadly force. Seeking to elude capture, the offender retreated into the house, which was now filling with deadly gas. After opening windows and turning off the gas, the police continued searching the home; and
WHEREAS, Seeing an opportunity to retreat to safety, the offender's mother, who was dazed and bleeding from her own wounds, which included a ruptured eardrum, fled the house and was ushered to safety by officers, while fellow officers continued their search for her son and any other possible victims; and
WHEREAS, When the offender attempted to attack a group of police officers searching a room in the basement, the officers fatally shot the man in self defense. It was later learned that the offender had recently been released from prison after serving an 18-year sentence for murder, that he was currently on bond for domestic battery against his mother, and that he had told his mother that he would kill her and a police officer before going back to jail for a domestic violence crime; and
WHEREAS, Throughout this horrific ordeal, even though he was bleeding profusely and had been temporarily blinded in one eye, Sergeant Cascone refused to be evacuated for medical treatment until the crime scene was secured and adequate police reinforcements had arrived to protect his fellow officers and innocent civilians. Sergeant Cascone was later transported to a local hospital, where he received numerous stitches and underwent surgery for his injuries; and
WHEREAS, By courageously putting himself in harm's way to protect an injured mother being held at knifepoint by her homicidal son, Sergeant Cascone upheld the standard of excellence and highest traditions of the Chicago Police Department; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council wishes to recognize and thank Alderman James Balcer for bringing to its attention Sergeant Cascone's inspirational story of bravery and integrity in the face of danger; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor, and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this thirtieth day of April, 2014, do hereby commend and applaud Chicago Police Sergeant James D. Cascone for his dedication, professionalism and valor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chicago Police Sergeant James D. Cascone, and placed on permanent record in his personnel file, as a token of our appreciation and esteem.