RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, in the late hours of May 21, 1988, Chicago Police Officer John Mathews, Star No. 9827, was attacked and killed by a group of five young men; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been reminded of this tragedy by the Honorable John Pope, Alderman ofthe 10th Ward; and
WHEREAS, a life-long resident of the Hegewisch community, Officer Mathews had always dreamed of becoming a Chicago police officer, and realized that dream only 18 months before his untimely death; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department was like a second family to Officer Mathews, and was also a very important part of his first family: he was the son of Chicago police officer, and had the honor of wearing his retired father's star number, and was fortunate enough to marry Laura Partin, the daughter of his father's partner on the force; and
WHEREAS, earlier in the evening of May 21, Officer Mathews heard a police radio call about a disturbance about a block from his home. He walked over to the incident, assisted the responding officers in effecting an arrest and clearing the scene, and returned to his home; and
WHEREAS, Officer Mathews later returned to the scene, and was attacked and killed; and
WHEREAS, Officer John Mathews was and is survived by his wife, Laura, and their children, Ann, Joseph and John; and
WHEREAS, arrests of those involved in Officer Mathews' killing came almost immediately, and his death was not memorialized by the City Council because of the pending criminal proceedings; and
WHEREAS, the passage of time since this tragedy has not eliminated the need to recognize a fallen officer's valor and service; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor and members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this 5th day of November, 2014, do hereby honor the life and service of Chicago Police Officer John Mathews, Star No. 9827; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we extend our most sincere condolences to the Mathews family; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that s...
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