OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RICHAED M. DALEY
MAYOR
April 13,2011
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution concerning EMS Field Chief John Marsden ofthe Chicago Fire Department, and his exemplary conduct during the events of March 1,2011.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
H resolution
adopted by Tfoe <lj QoUHCll
ofthe Qity of Qkicago, Illinois
presented by MAYOR RICHARD M. DALEY on APRIL 13, 2011
^QheteClS . On the afternoon of March 1, 2011, off-duty EMS Field Chief John Marsden ofthe Chicago Fire Department was walking eastbound on Monroe Street west of Wells Street in downtown Chicago when an 80-pound block of ice fell from a high-rise building and struck a moving automobile, crushing the car's roof and shattering its rear window; and
WHEREAS, Without hesitation, and wearing no protective gear to shield himself from additional falling ice, Field Chief Marsden immediately rushed to assist the woman who was driving the automobile when this horrifying incident occurred; and
WHEREAS, Wasting no time, Field Chief Marsden escorted the stunned woman to a safe location and used his cell phone to notify the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) of the accident and of the urgent need to dispatch emergency personnel to the area to protect other drivers and pedestrians from the falling ice; and
WHEREAS, As chunks of ice continued to rain down around him, Field Chief Marsden courageously took it upon himself to alert the pedestrians who were entering this unsafe space to leave the sidewalk and to seek refuge; and
WHEREAS, Meanwhile, OEMC swiftly dispatched the Chicago Fire Department, the Chicago Police Department and emergency medical technicians to the area to cordon it off; to redirect traffic; to identify the source of the falling ice; and to work with the property managers of surrounding buildings to manage the dangers posed by the falling ice until the problem could finally be resolved; and
WHEREAS, When Field Chief Marsden saw that the Chicago Fire Department's Aerial Tower 1 was nearing the location of the falling ice, he stopped the approaching fire vehicle short of the treacherous area and quickly briefed the firemen onboard; and
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WHEREAS, In the midst of this unfolding drama, Field Chief Marsden was seriously injured himself when he was hit by a large chunk of ice and suffered a gaping 10-inch wound to his head; and
WHEREAS, Field Chief Marsden's alertness, immediate response and quick action in the face of this unanticipated and life-threatening situation undoubtedly saved the lives and property of other innocent citizens who, by a twist of fate, found themselves at this hazardous location on the afternoon of March 1, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Field Chief Marsden's brave and selfless intervention, while off duty, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Chicago Fire Department and is a true testament to what it means to be a public servant; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this thirteenth day of April, 2011, do hereby applaud EMS Field Chief John Marsden for his dedication, professionalism and valor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to EMS Field Chief John Marsden, and placed on permanent record in his personnel file, as a token of our appreciation and esteem.