HR0911LRB101 22298 LAW 73340 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jerry D. 
4Bratcher, former police chief of Palatine, who passed away on 
5August 20, 2020; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Chief Bratcher was born on August 15, 1934; he 
7served in the U.S. Marine Corps, enlisting at the age of 17 
8during the Korean War; he was a drill instructor and earned the 
9rank of sergeant before he was honorably discharged; he earned 
10his bachelor's and master's degrees from Western Illinois 
11University; he earned a second master's degree in Public 
12Administration from Roosevelt University; he graduated from 
13the FBI National Academy and the Southern Police Institute; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, After leaving the U.S. Marine Corps, Chief 
15Bratcher had a 40-year career in law enforcement; he first 
16joined the DeKalb Police Department, where he rose through the 
17ranks to captain; he later accepted the chief of police 
18position in Rochelle and served there for five years; he then 
19became the chief of police in Palatine, where he served for 25 
20years; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Chief Jerry Bratcher's tenure as the chief of 
22police was marked by the adoption of many innovative policing 
 
 
HR0911- 2 -LRB101 22298 LAW 73340 r

1techniques, including implementing a local crime prevention 
2unit, making the Palatine Police Department the first police 
3department to do so in the State of Illinois; under his 
4leadership, the department adopted a neighborhood-based 
5policing approach and started requiring four-year college 
6degrees for new officer hires; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Chief Bratcher was preceded in death by his wife 
8of 53 years, Helen; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Chief Bratcher was the loving father of Kim 
10O'Brien, Steve (Nancy) Bratcher, and Nicole Sisk; and he was 
11the cherished grandfather of 13 grandchildren and 1 
12great-granddaughter; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
14HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
15we mourn the passing of Jerry D. Bratcher, former police chief 
16of Palatine, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, 
17friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to the family of Chief Bratcher as an expression of 
20our deepest sympathy.