OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
September 6,2017
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Reboyras, Lopez and Thompson, a congratulatory resolution concerning the Chicago Police Department.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
resolution
adopted by C[\q Qltlj GoUUCil
of Ae (Bity of Qhicago, Illinois
Aldermen Arial Reboyras, Raymond A. Lopez , Patrick D. Thompson,
resented by and Mayor Rahm Emanuei September 6, 2017
^QhctGUS • ln tne ear|y afternoon of July 21, 2017, Chicago Police Officers David Perez (Star #14864) and Victoria Mendoza (Star #14334) were dispatched to the scene of an armed robbery at a T-Mobile store at 43rd Street and Ashland Avenue in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago's South Side; and
WHEREAS, Armed robbers had entered the store, rounded up the store's employees and customers, and bound them with zip ties; and
WHEREAS, One employee managed to slip out the back of the store undetected to alert police, while a customer escaped through the front door, before the offenders fled the scene in a waiting vehicle; and
WHEREAS, Officers Perez and Mendoza immediately pursued the offenders; and
WHEREAS, When the offenders reached the west side of Ashland Avenue, they turned, pointed their guns at the pursuing officers, and began firing; and
WHEREAS, Officer Mendoza was shot in the leg, the bullet shattering her knee;
and
WHEREAS, Ignoring the significant risk to his own life, Officer Perez continued to pursue the offenders on foot; and
WHEREAS, During the foot chase, Officer Perez took and returned gun fire with at least one of the offenders; and
WHEREAS, Thanks to the bravery and relentless determination of Officer Perez and other pursuing officers, the offenders were arrested and charged with armed robbery and attempted murder; and
WHEREAS, Ten days after being grievously injured while on duty, Officer Mendoza personally thanked the children attending camp at the Chicago Park District's Wilson Fieid House for the lovely get-well cards they had sent her while she was recuperating in the hospital; and
WHEREAS, In response to o question from one inquisitive child, Officer Mendoza, who is widely admired for her irrepressible spirit and boundless energy, assured the children that she planned to return to work at the Chicago Police Department as soon as possible to do "the job I was intended to do." In the meantime, she said: "i have a goal. I do the Hustle Up the Hancock every year. That's the goal I am going to work for"; and
WHEREAS, The courage, devotion and resilience demonstrated by Officer Perez and Officer Mendoza, while risking their lives at the scene of a violent crime; and in the case of Officer Mendoza, while recovering from the wound she sustained in the line of duty, has earned them the respect and gratitude of all Chicagoans; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this sixth day of September, 2017, do hereby honor Chicago Police Officers David Perez and Victoria Mendoza, who, in keeping with the highest traditions of the Chicago Police Department, risked their lives to protect and defend " the residents of our great City; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Chicago Police Officers David Perez and Victoria Mendoza, and placed on permanent record in their personnel files, as a token of our gratitude and esteem.
