OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
November 5, 2014
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,
H resolution
adopted by The Qity Qouncil
ofthe Gity of Gkicago, Illinois
presented by MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL on NOVEMBER 5. 2014
6Y6CIS On the morning of February 3, 2014, off duty Chicago Police Officer Jorge Flores (Star #15489) stopped, with his wife, son and nephew, at a drug store located on the 5200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in order to use the ATM machine inside the store; and
WHEREAS, Unbeknownst to Officer Flores, an armed robbery was taking place inside the store; and
WHEREAS, The offender, a male dressed in a hooded jacket, was standing in line near the check-out counter. When he reached the cash register, the offender pulled a black handgun from the right pocket of his jacket and ordered the elderly cashier to give him the money in the register; and
WHEREAS, Fearing for her own life and that of her customers, the cashier began to place the money in a bag; and
WHEREAS, At precisely this moment, Officer Flores entered the store. Seeing the clearly distressed cashier emptying the contents of the register into a bag and seeing the butt of a handgun protruding from the offender's pocket. Officer Flores immediately, and without regard for his own personal safety, sprang into action; and
WHEREAS, Discreetly producing his own firearm, Officer Flores quietly walked up behind the armed offender without alerting the man to his presence. After making eye contact with the cashier and raising his jacket to expose his police badge, Officer Flores announced that he was a police officer and ordered the offender to put up his hands and surrender; and
WHEREAS, When the over 300 pound offender refused to comply, a struggle ensued between Officer Flores and the offender, causing both men to fall to the ground, with Officer Flores landing on top of the offender. Still refusing to surrender, the offender twisted and turned his body toward Officer Flores, shouting: "You will have to shoot me. I'm not going back to jail." Again, Officer Flores ordered the offender to surrender, which he refused to do, instead reaching for the weapon in his pocket; and
WHEREAS, Fearing for his own safety and for the lives of the innocent employees and customers in the store, Officer Flores was forced to fire his weapon at the offender, striking him and bringing the struggle to an end. Meanwhile, Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene to render medical assistance to the armed robber, who was transported by ambulance to Luther General Hospital, where he later died from his injuries; and
WHEREAS, An investigation determined that the offender was responsible for armed robberies at three other retail stores, and had robbed this same drug store just one week before; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this fifth day of November, 2014, do hereby honor and commend Chicago Police Officer Jorge Flores, who, in keeping with the highest traditions of the Chicago Police Department, acted heroically and with outstanding results under dangerous and unanticipated circumstances; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution to presented to Chicago Police Officer Jorge Flores, and placed on permanent record in his personnel file, as a token of our appreciation and esteem.