HR1275 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1275 LRB100 22697 MST 41677 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Timothy L. Dotson on the occasion of his retirement from the Chicago Police Department; and

WHEREAS, Timothy Dotson was born in Chicago to Leroy and Ida Grace Dotson on June 5, 1966; he attended Frank L. Gillespie Elementary School and Chicago Vocational Jr. High School, where he majored in commercial arts; he then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, Timothy Dotson married his high school sweetheart, Thaddy Jenise Dotson, and they had three children, Timothy Jr., Tiffany, and Troy; and

WHEREAS, Timothy Dotson served his country on active duty in the Marine Corps for approximately seven years; he served in various capacities including as a field artillery cannon crew chief, a military policeman, and a cadre trainer; his military service took him to numerous places, including California, Okinawa, and Seoul; it was his stint as a military policeman that cultivated his desire to work within the law enforcement profession; and

WHEREAS, While still on active duty with the Marines, Timothy Dotson attended the Ventura County Police & Sheriff's Academy; he graduated as the outstanding cadet of his class and was hired as a reserve police officer for the beach front city of Port Hueneme, California; and

WHEREAS, Upon conclusion of his active duty military obligation, Timothy Dotson returned home to the Chicago area and worked as a firearms instructor for PBS, a private security school; he was hired a short time later by the Chicago Transit Authority as a bus operator, where he worked until the City of Gary (Indiana) hired him as a police officer; he attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, Indiana, where he was named president of the class by his peers and Squad Leader of Class 94-117 by the academy staff; and

WHEREAS, As a Gary Police Officer, Timothy Dotson was entrusted to work within the Public Morals Bureau after only a few short months on the job; he later worked on the Lake County Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force or "Safe Streets", headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; he was recognized by the Optimist Club of Hammond Indiana for his dedication to duty; he was also recognized by the Merrillville office of the FBI for his role in Safe Street's achieving 500 arrests; and

WHEREAS, Timothy Dotson served the City of Gary Indiana for three years before moving back to Chicago and accepting a position with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Police, where he served for two years before realizing his dream of serving with the Chicago Police Department; and

WHEREAS, Timothy Dotson served the citizens of Chicago with distinction; during his 20-year career, he worked in the Grand Crossing Police District as a patrolman, field training officer, tactical officer, and gang enforcement officer; his other assignments included special operations and the training academy; after 17 years of hard work and dedication, he was promoted to the rank of detective; and

WHEREAS, Timothy Dotson's first assignment was as a Special Victim's Unit Detective; he later worked within the Violent Crimes Unit as a Homicide and General Investigation Detective; he completed both a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Management and a Master of Science in Public Safety Administration; and

WHEREAS, Timothy Dotson received numerous awards and commendations, including two CPD Life Saving Awards, three departmental commendations, and over 70 departmental honorable mentions; and

WHEREAS, Timothy Dotson has also been ordained as a gospel minister and has attained a master's degree in ministry from the McCormick Theological Seminary; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Timothy L. Dotson on his retirement from the Chicago Police Department, and we wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Timothy Dotson as an expression of our esteem and respect.