OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
June 8,2011
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.
Very truly yours,
Mayor
H resolution
adopud by Tlie Gity Gouncil
Gity of Gkicago, Illinois
presented by MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL_ m_JUNE 8, 2011
BTBCIS ln tne early morning darkness of October 22, 2010, Probationary Police Officer Daniel Vazquez (Star #11852) of the Chicago Police Department was driving home on the Stevenson Expressway after a late-night training shift; and
WHEREAS, Officer Vazquez was startled to see a car veer into the car driving in the adjacent lane, causing it to swerve, lose control and crash into the median wall; and
WHEREAS, Even though he was off duty and easily could have called 9-1-1 to respond; Officer Vazquez delayed returning home to his pregnant wife and their three children and chose to try to help a possibly injured stranger; and
WHEREAS, After calling to request an ambulance. Officer Vazquez got out of his car and rushed to the crashed vehicle to assist the driver and any passengers; and
WHEREAS, After checking on the crash victim and finding that, although shaken and in shock, she was not physically harmed, Officer Vazquez returned to his vehicle to get a jack to help change her tire; and
WHEREAS, In a cruel twist of fate, at that moment, another motorist, who had fallen asleep at the wheel, struck Officer Vazquez, injuring him severely; and
WHEREAS, Upon arrival of the ambulance, Officer Vazquez insisted he was fine and that he did not need the paramedics to attend to him. Eventually, the paramedics convinced him to let them examine him; and
WHEREAS, Despite his brave protestations as to his condition. Officer Vazquez was rushed to the hospital in critical condition with brain hemorrhaging and swelling; and
WHEREAS, Officer Vazquez remained in the hospital for three weeks before beginning intense rehabilitation that lasted over three months; and
WHEREAS, Although he still experiences pain from his extensive injuries. Officer Vazquez finished his academy training and is now working in the 10th Police District to complete his field training; and
WHEREAS, Courage, character and determination are not new to Officer Vazquez, who previously served his country with honor and distinction as a United States Marine deployed to Iraq; and
WHEREAS, As a tribute to his public service and impeccable sense of duty, Officer Vazquez was recently awarded the Chicago Police Department's Thor Soderberg Leadership Award as the outstanding recruit of his class; 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 June, 2011, do hereby honor Probationary Police Officer Daniel Vazquez for his valor and selflessness; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Probationary Police Officer Daniel Vazquez, and placed on permanent record in his personnel file, as a token of our appreciation and esteem.