A Resolution
adopted byThe City Council
of the City of Chicago, Illinois
Presented by MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL 0N MAY 8, 2013
WHEREAS,, On the morning of December 17, 2012, 4th District Police Officers Robert J. McGee (Star #13378) and Pedro Guzman (Star #4406) were patrolling a portion of East 77th Street, where there had been recent robberies and gang activity; and
WHEREAS, Officers McGee and Guzman saw a man walk past them, then look over his shoulder while adjusting his waistband. This behavior indicated to the Officers that he was perhaps carrying a firearm; and
WHEREAS, The Officers announced their office and approached the man, but he suddenly sprinted away while holding his side. Officer McGee got out of the car and ran after the man, while Officer Guzman called for assistance and followed in the squad car. As Officer McGee chased the suspect from yard to yard, through alleys and over numerous fences, Officer Guzman contained the man's route by driving down the street, keeping pace with the foot chase. At one point the suspect pulled his handgun from his waistband while he was running, and pointed it at the police officers in pursuit; and
WHEREAS, Fellow 4th District Police Officers Joseph Perez (Star #4692) and Mark D. Heinzel (Star #17399) joined the pursuit as well. Thanks to the Officers' unrelenting effort, the suspect was eventually trapped in a back yard in the 1500 block of East 77th Street; and
WHEREAS, Trapped in the yard, the gunman crouched down in a shooting position, with his weapon aimed and ready to fire at the officers as they came through the gangway. The officers slowly approached him from several directions, but the gunman ignored repeated warnings to drop his weapon. Police Officer Heinzel, fearing for the lives of his fellow officers and his own life, fired at the gunman, striking him in the side. The disabled gunman was quickly taken into custody, his weapon was secured and medical treatment was summoned; and
WHEREAS, The true danger of the situation was emphasized when the gunman's weapon was revealed to be a fully loaded .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun. The suspect was charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon; and
WHEREAS, These Police Officers responded to a perilous situation without hesitation and showed the highest level of professionalism, which led to a dangerous man being arrested, and his weapon recovered, without injury to any innocent person. By taking a dangerous armed offender off the streets of Chicago, these Officers exemplify the finest tradition of the Chicago Police Department; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this eighth day of May, 2013, do hereby honor Chicago Police Officers Pedro Guzman, Mark D. Heinzel, Robert J. McGee and Joseph Perez for their display of bravery in the face of serious injury or death; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to these members of the Chicago Police Department, and placed on permanent record in their personnel files, as a token of our gratitude and esteem.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
May 8, 2013
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution concerning the Chicago Police Department.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,